Diabetes at Work, School and Traveling

Staying in charge of your diabetes no matter what your day holds—work, school, travel, or special events—takes planning ahead. Many days will go smoothly, but some days will hold surprises, such as extra activity or delays that throw your schedule off.

Stay in charge of your diabetes, no matter what your day holds, by planning ahead.

• Plan ahead for these times by always keeping a treatment for low blood glucose with you (see Foods and Liquids for Low Blood Glucose for some choices). If you have any signs that your glucose may be low (see Signs of Low Blood Glucose), go ahead and treat it right away.

• Stay as close to your eating, activity, and medicine schedule as you can. Keep track of your blood glucose so you can pick up changes early. Always wear or carry identification that says you have diabetes.

• Talk with your health care team about your planned schedule and activities. Ask for help in planning ahead for work, school, travel, and special events. When you read the rest of this section, you may think of more questions to ask.

At Work and School

Talk with your health care provider about balancing your daily activities and your glucose levels.

• Talk with your health care team about the type of activity you do at work or at school. From time to time, you and your health care team may need to make changes in your activity, medicine, or eating.

• Many people take supplies for checking their glucose to school or work so they can check if at regular break times. Some people choose to show their fellow workers, their teachers, or their classmates how to help if they should ever have a problem. They teach them how to tell when their glucose is low and how to treat it (see Treating Low Blood Glucose). Some people like to have written steps on file at their place of work or with their teacher.

During Travel

Heading out of town? Leaving your troubles behind? Off on an important business trip? Whenever you travel, your diabetes comes along with you. And while having diabetes shouldn’t stop you from traveling in style, you will have to do some careful planning Traveling with chronic medical illnesses can be difficult.

Planning ahead

When you plan a trip, think about your day-to-day schedule and try to stay as close to it as you can. For example, if you usually check your blood glucose at noon and then eat lunch, plan to do this on your trip, as well. Trips can hold surprises—in delays and changes. Even the types of food and supplies you can buy on your trip may not be the same as those you get at home.

Before you travel, work with your health care provider to plan your timing for medicine, food, and activity. Talk about what to do if you find changes in your glucose readings.

• Get all your immunizations. Find out what’s required for where you’re going, and make sure you get the right shots, on time.
• Control your ABCs: A1C, Blood pressure, and Cholesterol. See your health care provider for a check-up four to six weeks before your trip to make sure your ABCs are under control and in a healthy range before you leave.
• Ask your health care provider for a prescription and a letter explaining your diabetes medications, supplies, and any allergies. Carry this with you at all times on your trip. The

prescription should be for insulinor diabetes medications and could help in case of an emergency.

• Wear identification that explains you have diabetes. The identification should be written in the languages of the places you are visiting.
• Plan for time zone changes. Make sure you’ll always know when to take your diabetes medicine, no matter where you are. Remember: eastward travel means a shorter day. If you inject insulin, less may be needed. Westward travel means a longer day, so more insulin may be needed.
• Find out how long the flight will be and whether meals will be served. However, you should always carry enough food to cover the entire flight time in case of delays or unexpected schedule changes.
• Test your glucose often and keep track of it.
• Wear identification that says you have diabetes.
• Let others know how they can help you.
• Check new airline travel tips by contacting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at http://www.faa.gov
  or 800-322-7873.

Packing properly

• Take twice the amount of diabetes medication and supplies that you’d normally need. Better safe than sorry.
• Keep your insulin cool by packing it in an insulated bag with refrigerated gel packs.
• Keep snacks, glucose gel, or tablets with you in case your blood glucose drops.
• If you use insulin, make sure you also pack a glucagon emergency kit.
• Make sure you keep your medical insurance card and emergency phone numbers handy.
• Don’t forget to pack a first aid kit with all the essentials.

Trips can hold surprises. Plan ahead for delays and changes.

Changing time zones

If you’re traveling in a different time zone, you may need to change your timing of food, medicine, and activity. Ask your health care provider to help you with this. Talk about the food and drink choices that would be healthy for you. If you’ll be in another country, ask your doctor to write a letter explaining that you have diabetes. It’s also a good idea to get your doctor to write a prescription for you to get insulin or supplies if needed.

• Because prescription laws may be very different in other countries, write for a list of International Diabetes Federation groups: IDF, 1 rue Defaeqz, B-1000, Belgium or visit http://www.idf.org You may also want to get a list of English-speaking foreign doctors in case of an emergency. Contact the American Consulate, American Express, or local medical schools for a list of doctors. Insulin in foreign countries comes in different strengths. If you purchase insulin in a foreign country, be sure to use the right syringe for the strength. An incorrect syringe may cause you to take too much or too little insulin.

Air Travel

• Plan to carry all your diabetes supplies in your carry-on luggage. Don’t risk a lost suitcase.
• Have all syringes and insulin delivery systems (including vials of insulin) clearly marked with the pharmaceutical preprinted label that identifies the medications. The FAA recommends that patients travel with their original pharmacy labeled packaging. Keep

your diabetes medications and emergency snacks with you at your seat – don’t store them in an overhead bin.

• If the airline offers a meal for your flight call ahead for a diabetic, low fat, or low cholesterol meal. Wait until your food is about to be served before you take your insulin.

Diabetes management on a plane:

• If no food is offered on your flight, bring a meal on board yourself.
• If you plan on using the restroom for insulin injections, ask for an aisle seat for easier access.
• Don’t be shy about telling the flight attendant that you have diabetes – especially if you are traveling alone.
• When drawing up your dose of insulin, don’t inject air into the bottle (the air on your plane will probably be pressurized).

Car travel

• Don’t leave your medications in the trunk, glove compartment, or near a window – they might overheat. If possible, carry a cooler in the car to keep medications cool. Bring extra food with you in the car in case you can’t find a restaurant.

General traveling tips

• Stay comfortable and reduce your risk for blood clots by moving around every hour or two.
• Always tell at least one person traveling with you about your diabetes.
• Protect your feet. Never go barefoot in the shower or pool.
• Check your blood glucose often. Changes in diet, activity, and time zones can affect your blood glucose in unexpected ways.