Diabetics need to make plans when traveling

Fall is travel time for empty nesters and retirees. But diabetics know you can't take a vacation from this disease. With a little planning, however, it's possible to get away from it all, take care of yourself and have fun, even while battling delayed air flights.

"Planning is the answer for most things in life," advised Jacque McKernan, Ph.D., a diabetes case manager at Naperville's Edward Hospital Center For Diabetes Education. "I tell patients to bring 24 to 48 hours worth of non-perishable food and water, to bring double the amount of insulin or medicine. And don't forget a good book and your favorite blanket or pillow. You have to anticipate a wait."

With U.S. flight delays topping out this summer at the highest in the past 13 years, and with no relief in sight, say analysts, the unexpected has become the expected. June was one of the worst months for flight delays since the Department of Transportation began compiling data in 1987. That unpredictability wreaks havoc on a diabetic's carefully worked-out eating and medication schedule.

Forget about traveling light. Pack medical supplies in your carry-on luggage for easy and sure access to them. Keep them with you; do not store them in the overhead bin. Medical supplies should have a prescription label with your name on it. The National Diabetes Education Program, a coalition of the National Institutes of Health, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and diabetes-related public and private organizations, suggests having a prescription, in case of emergency, and a letter from your physician explaining medications, supplies and any allergies.

"Keep a list of all your meds on a 3x5 card and keep it in a plastic baggie," McKernan said. "And don't forget your glucose meter. Whether you've just been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes or have grown up with the disease, you're still a diabetic. It doesn't matter if you're on pills, insulin, or it's diet controlled, your glucose meter is your lifeline. Flying is stressful and stress hormones work against you so you generally need more insulin."

Tuck in some extra batteries for that glucose meter, as well as some snack packs of crackers, cheese, peanut butter, fruit and some hard candy or glucose tablets. Keep bottled water and juice on hand, but remember you can't take it through airport security and will have to buy a new supply once you're in the departure area.

Request a special meal from the airlines that's low in sugar at least two days before the flight. Wait to take insulin right before you eat when you see the food coming down the aisle. If you do take insulin while in flight, experienced diabetic travelers suggest care so air isn't injected into the insulin bottle. In pressurized cabins, pressure differences can make it hard to measure insulin accurately.

Don't be shy. If you're traveling alone, let someone know you are diabetic. Wear a medical ID bracelet indicating that you have diabetes.

Before your trip, talk to your doctor or a diabetes educator like McKernan, especially if you'll be crossing time zones. If you're traveling north or south, timing medication or insulin shouldn't be a concern. When traveling across six or more time zones, it's important to adjust your normal schedule. Timing oral diabetes medication isn't as crucial as that of insulin.

Can you say, "Ich bin zuckerkranke und notwendigkeit medizinische hilfe?" That's German for "I am diabetic and need medical help." If you're traveling to a foreign country learn the language…at least enough to help you through an emergency.

After all that planning, relax and enjoy your vacation. You've earned it.