Long holiday trips are still possible if you have diabetes — just be sure to take along more medication than necessary, as well as check your blood sugar levels more often than you normally would.
These are two of the most important rules for diabetics who take lengthy trips, explains the German Diabetes Aid charity.
An unfamiliar environment, a new time zone or a flight can be stressful for some people.
This increases the blood sugar level and with it the required insulin dose. On a long-distance hike or in the mountains, however, diabetics may require significantly less insulin.
Tropical weather, meanwhile, has a negative effect on glucose tolerance. As a result, blood sugar levels rise more strongly after eating than at home.
Experts generally recommend that travellers with diabetes pack about two to three times the amount of medication they are likely to need so that they are prepared for every eventuality.
And don’t forget: Medications and accessories such as syringes may only be carried in hand luggage with a doctor’s note. – dpa
