International travel? In some countries, insulin is available in U-40 concentrations only.
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"People who travel a lot love to be on insulins that can be put in pens because they're very easily transportable," says Richard Hellman, MD, former president of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.
Frequent travelers also like five-second glucose meters because they're fast, portable, and increasingly accurate, he says.
"We have seen more than a number of patients in whom changing the flexibility improved their control simply because they found they could do what they needed to do without drawing attention to themselves or sacrificing their own control," Dr. Hellman says.
Getting through airport security
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allows insulin, syringes, lancets, pumps, and other supplies through airport security. (Find a complete list of airport rules and regulations on the Transportation Security Administration's website.)
Malcolm McCoy, 76, who enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a young adult, travels to Columbus on occasion to attend meetings of the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame and always packs a glucose test meter and a Novolog insulin pen. "I just do it," says the Lima, Ohio resident. "I don't worry about whether it's discreet or not. It's just something that I have to contend with."
Charles Wiggins, 74, of Chicago, also uses insulin to treat his type 2 diabetes. He keeps his medication in his carry-on luggage to make sure it doesn't get lost and brings twice as much as he needs for a trip in case he breaks or drops his insulin syringes or extends his trip. He keeps his glucose monitor in his pocket, and tests four times a day every day.
When traveling, Wiggins usually gets a cup of orange juice on his flight, and always has granola bars with him. He also carries glucose tablets and peppermints or hard candies, in case of hypoglycemia. "Almost like a little kit," he says. "I call it my fail-safe kit, because without it I'm not safe."
Plane travel
When you are flying:
International travel
When you are traveling to other countries:
When you are flying:
- Check with your doctor, if needed, about changing your insulin dose and timing if you will travel across three or more time zones.
- Pack your diabetes supplies in your carry-on bag. Luggage can get lost and supplies damaged by the temperature extremes in the baggage area. You will need medical identification or a doctor's prescription for your needles and syringes to be allowed through airport security.
- Put your insulin bottle (vial), if needed, into a small, wide-mouth, cool, empty thermos if you are not sure that temperatures will stay in a range that is safe for your insulin.
- Put in half the air you usually add to the insulin vial, if needed, to adjust for altitude air pressure changes if you draw up your insulin while flying.
- Get up and walk every hour or so. This will help blood flow in your legs and will make sure that your insulin works properly.
International travel
When you are traveling to other countries:
- Find out which immunizations are needed for your trip. Get immunized at least 3 to 4 weeks before you travel. These injections can increase your blood sugar for a short time.
- Visit your doctor if you take insulin and are traveling overseas. Ask for a letter stating that you have diabetes and need to carry syringes and other supplies with you at all times. Also, ask for an extra prescription for your insulin. Take both with you on your trip to help you pass through customs with your syringes, needles, and other injection supplies. In some countries, insulin is available in U-40 concentrations only. If you have to use this concentration, you will need to use syringes that are designed to dispense this concentration.
- Pack a small disposable container with you to hold your used lancets and needles (wide-mouth plastic soda pop or water bottles work well).
- Pack a supply of nonprescription medications (that will not affect blood sugar levels) to treat minor illnesses such as a cold.
- Pack a language/translation book or other type of aid that will help you express your diabetes needs to others if you are traveling to a country where English is not the main language.
Last Updated: January 15, 2007