Traveling with Diabetes: A Complete Checklist
Having diabetes doesn't mean you can't travel. With some planning, you can enjoy road trips, flights, cruises, and international adventures while keeping your blood glucose on track. Travel can disrupt routines, meal times, activity levels, and time zones, so preparing ahead helps you avoid problems. This guide covers what to pack, airport security, managing insulin across time zones, food and activity on the road, and what to do if you get sick while traveling.
Before you go
Talk with your health care team
Schedule a visit or call your care team a few weeks before a major trip, especially if you are traveling abroad, crossing several time zones, or planning very active excursions. Ask about:
- How to adjust insulin or other medicines for time zone changes
- What to do on sick days while away. See managing diabetes when you're sick.
- Prescriptions for extra supplies, including a backup prescription for insulin and other medicines
- Any vaccines recommended for your destination
- A letter describing your diabetes and the supplies and medicines you carry, which can help at security or customs
Check insurance and resources
Find out whether your health insurance covers care at your destination, especially abroad. Consider travel health insurance. Locate pharmacies and medical facilities near where you will stay. Note that insulin names, strengths, and availability can differ in other countries.
Wear medical identification
A medical ID bracelet or necklace tells others you have diabetes if you cannot speak for yourself.
What to pack
Pack at least twice the amount of medicines and supplies you expect to need, in case of delays or lost items. Keep most of your supplies in your carry-on bag; checked luggage can be lost and can be exposed to extreme temperatures. A packing checklist might include:
- Insulin and other diabetes medicines, in original pharmacy-labeled packaging
- Syringes or pen needles, and backup syringes or pens if you use a pump
- Pump supplies: infusion sets, reservoirs, batteries, chargers
- CGM sensors, transmitter or reader, and chargers
- Blood glucose meter, extra test strips, lancets, and control solution, even if you use a CGM
- Ketone test strips if recommended. See hyperglycemia and DKA.
- Glucagon
- Fast-acting carbohydrate, such as glucose tablets or gel
- Snacks for delays. See best snacks for diabetes.
- A cooling case for insulin
- Sharps container
- Your care team's contact information and your doctor's letter
- Comfortable, well-fitting shoes and extra socks. See diabetic foot care.
Split supplies between two bags if you are traveling with a companion, in case one bag is lost.
Airport security
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) allows diabetes supplies and medicines, including insulin, liquids like juice and gel used to treat lows, and devices, through security after screening. TSA's page on disabilities and medical conditions explains the procedures. Tips:
- Tell the TSA officer that you have diabetes and are carrying supplies.
- Separate medically necessary liquids from your other items for screening.
- If you wear an insulin pump or CGM, ask the device manufacturer whether it can go through scanners or X-ray machines. Many manufacturers recommend not sending devices through body scanners or X-ray; you can request a pat-down instead.
- Keep your supplies accessible during the flight.
Rules differ in other countries, so check ahead for international flights.
Storing insulin while traveling
Insulin is sensitive to temperature. Keep it away from direct sunlight and do not leave it in a hot car or in direct contact with ice. Do not store insulin in checked luggage. Use insulated cooling cases or wallets designed for insulin. Insulin that has frozen or overheated should not be used. See insulin basics.
Managing time zones
When you cross time zones, the timing of meals and medicines changes. Adjustments depend on your medicines, so plan with your care team. General points:
- Keep your watch or phone set to your home time zone during travel to track doses, then switch once you arrive, as your care team advises.
- People using long-acting insulin may need to shift dose timing gradually or adjust the dose when crossing many time zones.
- People using insulin pumps typically change the pump clock to local time after arrival.
- Check your glucose more often during and after long trips.
On the plane and on the road
- Check your glucose more often; changes in routine, stress, and inactivity can raise or lower glucose.
- Keep fast-acting carbohydrate and snacks with you. Don't rely on airline or roadside food being available.
- Drink water to stay hydrated, and limit alcohol. See alcohol and diabetes.
- Get up and walk or stretch every hour or two on long flights or drives to help circulation.
- If driving and you take insulin or medicines that can cause lows, check glucose before driving and every couple of hours. Do not drive with low glucose. See hypoglycemia.
Eating while away
New foods are part of the fun of travel. To manage glucose:
- Learn about local foods and their carbohydrate content ahead of time when possible.
- Use the plate method to build balanced meals. See diabetes-friendly eating basics.
- Estimate carbohydrates using portion guides if nutrition information isn't available. See carb counting.
- Don't skip meals if you take insulin or medicines that can cause lows.
- In places where water safety is a concern, drink bottled or treated water and be cautious with raw foods to avoid stomach illness.
Activity on vacation
Sightseeing, swimming, hiking, and walking can be far more activity than usual, which can lower glucose for hours. Check glucose often, carry snacks and fast-acting carbs, and ask your care team about adjusting insulin. Protect your feet with good shoes, and check them daily for blisters. Heat can affect insulin absorption and glucose levels, and can damage supplies. See exercise and diabetes.
If you get sick while traveling
Illness, such as a stomach bug, can raise glucose and increase the risk of dehydration and DKA. Follow your sick-day plan: keep taking insulin unless told otherwise, check glucose and ketones as advised, drink fluids, and seek care if you cannot keep fluids down or have moderate to large ketones. Know how to reach local emergency services at your destination.
Cruises and remote destinations
Ask the cruise line about medical facilities on board and refrigeration for insulin. For remote destinations, bring extra supplies and a detailed plan, since medical care and pharmacies may be far away.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring juice through airport security to treat lows?
In the United States, TSA allows medically necessary liquids, including juice or gel used to treat low blood glucose, in quantities greater than the usual limit, after screening. Tell the officer and separate these items from other liquids.
Do I need a doctor's letter to fly with diabetes supplies?
It isn't always required, but a letter from your provider describing your diabetes and listing your medicines and devices can be helpful, especially for international travel or if questions come up at security or customs.
What if I lose my insulin while abroad?
Contact a local pharmacy or medical facility. Bring copies of your prescriptions and know the generic names of your medicines, since brand names differ between countries. Insulin strengths can also differ, so make sure any replacement insulin matches the syringes or pens you use. This is one reason to pack extra supplies in separate bags.
Does heat affect my glucose?
Heat can speed up insulin absorption, which may raise the risk of lows, and it can damage insulin, meters, and test strips. Stay hydrated, keep supplies cool and out of the sun, and check your glucose more often in hot weather.
Key takeaways
- Plan ahead with your care team, especially for time zone changes and international travel.
- Pack at least double the supplies you expect to need, and keep them in your carry-on.
- TSA allows diabetes supplies and medicines; tell officers you have diabetes and ask about device screening.
- Protect insulin from heat and cold, check glucose more often, and keep fast-acting carbs and snacks with you.
- Have a sick-day plan and know where to get care at your destination.
Sources
Links to the sources cited above appear in the text. We rely on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), and the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
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