Special Preparations for People with Diabetes before Traveling

People with diabetes do need to be more careful in their activities, traveling, and eating food. But type one or two diabetes is not an obstacle to travel anywhere. With adequate preparation, all risks and bad possibilities can be minimized. Basically the activities and diets of people with diabetes while traveling are more or less the same as those recommended every day. But for people with diabetes have a dense activity and like traveling, weather and time differences, as well as access to medicines and doctors in the place where you will visit, can make you need to more carefully prepare for the trip. Below are some things that a person with diabetes needs to prepare before traveling.

• Re-check equipment needed every day: drugs, monitoring glucose levels, insulin or injectable drugs if needed. Store in two different places, one of which is a handbag that can be carried and accessed easily. As a precaution, you can bring these medicines in double the usual amount.
• Bring a certificate from the doctor stating that you have diabetes. Equipment for managing diabetes may require the support of certain documents when examined.
• Look for information on where you can get insulin in your intended area, just in case your supply of drugs is running low.
• Bring the prescription medicines that you need to show to the pharmacy if you suddenly run out or need medication.
• As much as possible use your rights to get travel insurance.
• Bring extra snacks, especially if there is a risk of a delayed flight or trip. Low blood sugar levels can be overcome by consuming non-diet sugar drinks, fruit juices, sugar candy, biscuits.
• Note the time zone differences that might make you need to reset the time of drug or insulin consumption.

Cold or hot weather can also affect glucose and insulin levels. In hot weather, wear long-sleeved pants and clothes, hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Keep the skin from burning, especially in people with neuropathy. Whereas in cold weather, insulin is absorbed more slowly at the beginning and then absorbed suddenly when you warm yourself so that it can cause a decrease in blood sugar levels. For diabetics with neuropathy, it is very important to dress warmly to prevent the occurrence of frostbite which may not be realized due to decreased skin sensitivity.

Beat catching a cold when traveling

People who travel are susceptible to colds due to weather changes, fatigue, and lack of rest. It is important for diabetics to bring personal medicines to deal with colds while on the trip, of course choose one that does not increase blood sugar levels. In Indonesia, the term colds is used to refer to a collection of common symptoms that are often experienced such as flatulence, nausea, abdominal pain, dizziness, chills, and dry throat. Common colds can be treated alone with over-the-counter medicines. Ingredients that are generally contained in herbal medicines to deal with colds include ginger which is known to have anti-emetic effects and antimicrobials that cause disease, fennel that can be used to handle intestinal gas, and mint leaves which are commonly used to treat digestive disorders. To deal with colds, diabetics need to choose drugs that are not high in sugar content. This can be known by reading the label carefully. One of the sweetener content that is not dangerous for people with diabetes is royal jelly. Research reveals that royal jelly increases insulin sensitivity and antioxidant levels in people with diabetes, especially ages 25 - 65. This is very beneficial for diabetics, because with royal jelly the blood sugar levels of diabetics will tend to be stable. In addition, this material also plays a role in reducing cardiovascular risk and cholesterol levels. Be sure to include medicines that contain the above ingredients when traveling. If deemed necessary, first consult your trip to the doctor before leaving. With good preparation, people with diabetes will not experience significant obstacles when traveling anywhere.