SATURDAY, Nov. 13, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- If you have diabetes, you should do some careful planning before you take any trips this holiday season, says Cecilia Sauter, program coordinator of the University of Michigan Diabetes Education Program.
If you're going to travel, see your doctor six to eight weeks before you leave. That time period will allow you to make any necessary lifestyle changes to ensure your diabetes is under control before you depart.
Your doctor can tell you what medications for diarrhea and vomiting -- should your stomach have trouble with food or beverages on your trip -- you can use without upsetting your diabetes care plan. Your doctor can also give you advice about what to do if you get seriously ill on your trip.
You should also have your doctor provide you with a letter that says you have diabetes, what medications you're taking, and an explanation of how to use those medications. The letter should include the names of pills, types of insulin, when and how to take them, and any other required diabetic supplies that you'll be taking with you.
You doctor should also fill out an extra prescription for each medication and diabetic supply you'll be taking on your trip.
Sauter recommended that you double the amount of diabetic supplies you think you'll need. Put half of those supplies in your suitcase and the other half -- with all your medications -- in a carry-on bag that you should keep close at hand.
Ensure that all your medications, including syringes, have the complete, original pharmacy labels on them. If you remove those labels, you could have problems at security checkpoints.
When you travel, carry two or three snacks with you, along with a couple of bottles of juice and some hard candy and glucose tablets, Sauter said.
Remember to take care of your feet. Pack shoes, boots, and socks that won't cause blisters. Check your feet on a regular basis while you're traveling.
More information
The American Diabetes Association has more about traveling with diabetes supplies.
