Travel tips for Type 1 diabetic

Posted by jeffp @jeffp, 4 days ago

I'm a new T1D and international travel as part of my job. I haven't traveled long flights since becoming a T1D in June due to a total pancreatectomy. I am concerned about keeping my BG up during the long flight. My situation is a bit complicated because I'm not yet able to eat many of the complex carbs due to digestive issues. I'm on the "white bread" plan to keep my digestive happy.

Do you have a go to food or snack that you pack for long flights?

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windyshores | @windyshores | 4 days ago

Glucose tablets and/or gel!

Any high glycemic index snack (white rice, ripe banana, bagel etc.) but if you can't digest many carbs, glucose will keep you safe.

celia16 | @celia16 | 4 days ago

I used to rely on peanut butter crackers, cheese crackers, banana…..but kept juice as my staple for treating lows. I recently bought some sugar gel tabs, I’ve also used small tubes of cake icing. You can pack the snacks into a bag with diabetes supplies and it shouldn’t be counted against you as a bag, since it’s medical. I’d have a doctor note ready, but I’ve never been required to produce it. Also, had a prescription for my supplies.

Do you wear a CGM? Or insulin pump? My Medtronic 780 is what keeps me away from lows pretty well. The use of a cgm should help prevent lows, though I still do fingersticks and carry a sugar source with me at all times.

jeffp | @jeffp | 3 days ago

In reply to @celia16 "I used to rely on peanut butter crackers, cheese crackers, banana…..but kept juice as my staple..." + (show)

Thank you! I do wear a Dexcom G7 GCM. I hope to get on an insulin pump in 2025. I was also planning to pick up the 4ALLFAMILY Voyager to store my extra pens. I don't know if the hotel has a fridge. I like the crackers because they will travel well.

jeffp | @jeffp | 3 days ago

In reply to @windyshores "Glucose tablets and/or gel! Any high glycemic index snack (white rice, ripe banana, bagel etc.) but..." + (show)

Thank you! I do always pack a small bag whenever I go anywhere with my supplies that include glucose tabs, pens and needles, nasal Glucagon, meter, an apple juice, and some small bags of skittles. The banana and bagel sound like practical things that will travel well.

celia16 | @celia16 | 3 days ago

In reply to @jeffp "Thank you! I do wear a Dexcom G7 GCM. I hope to get on an insulin..." + (show)

You sound very prepared. Good idea to get something to keep insulin cool. I try to protect insulin from high heat. I don’t usually refrigerate mine when I travel, unless it’s in a hot environment. I take a lot of backup supplies. I used Dexcom years ago. Hopefully, you’ll get to try a pump before too long. I was MDI for many years before I switched to a pump.

Good luck with your travels!

Cheryl, Volunteer Mentor | @cehunt57 | 2 days ago

@jeffp it sounds like you’ve got this pretty well figured out. You’ve got the supplies, gear and snacks suggested by the great members above. I’m curious about your travels. How often and how far in terms of dealing with time zone changes? I’m also interested in your plans for an insulin pump. I am using a Dexcom G6 and an Omnipod 5. At the time (a year or two ago) the Dexcom G7 didn’t communicate with the pump and I wanted them to work together. Has that changed?

jeffp | @jeffp | 18 hours ago

In reply to @cehunt57 "@jeffp it sounds like you’ve got this pretty well figured out. You’ve got the supplies, gear..." + (show)

Hi @cehunt57 ,
I typically fly to Europe a few times a year so were talking about 7 - 9 hour flights plus some shorter connections.

When I got the Dexcom G7 it was pretty early in my diabetic journey and I didn't really have any input into the choice of GCM. You can find the integrations here, https://www.dexcom.com/en-us/partnerships/integrations-and-compatibility and https://www.dexcom.com/en-us/partnerships/pumps-and-pens. It looks like the G7 is now integrated with the Omnipod 5.

I haven't done much research on pumps yet. I have looked a bit at the Medtronic MiniMed 780G system at https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/switch2system but that's about it.

jeffp | @jeffp | 18 hours ago

In reply to @celia16 "You sound very prepared. Good idea to get something to keep insulin cool. I try to..." + (show)

Thanks @celia16
I was thinking of using the cooler to keep my backup insulin supplies cool. I don't think the hotel has a fridge. I wasn't planning on anything special for the open insulin. Am I thinking about that correctly?

Cheryl, Volunteer Mentor | @cehunt57 | 17 hours ago

In reply to @jeffp "Hi @cehunt57 , I typically fly to Europe a few times a year so were talking..." + (show)

I got the Dexcom G6 about 2-3 years ago and the Omnipod 5 about 1-2 years ago. (Time marches on.) Both were recommended by a Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) endocrinologist. My local endocrinologist (Twin Cities, MN metro area) wrote the prescriptions. I have a follow up appointment with her in a couple of weeks and will inquire about the Dexcom G7 then. I’ve been interested in that for awhile now. I had a Medtronic insulin pump YEARS ago. Hardly remember it. Technology keeps changing and hopefully improving over time. I’m pretty satisfied with Dexcom and Omnipod. Just a bit curious about the latest greatest models.

celia16 | @celia16 | 13 hours ago

In reply to @jeffp "Thanks @celia16 I was thinking of using the cooler to keep my backup insulin supplies cool...." + (show)

I use Medtronic so, my supplies consist of sensors, infusion sets, reservoirs, adhesive strips, transmitter charger, serter, blood meter and tests strips, insulin vial, syringes for backup, and alcohol wipes. I wouldn’t refrigerate any of those items unless it was very warm. Like if it’s over 75 degrees. I wouldn’t leave mine in a hot car. If I go out on the beach and it’s very hot, I’d place in a cooler. I’m the most careful with the sensors. You can read your manual to see their recommendations.

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