Don’t let diabetes affect your travel plans

Summer is approaching rapidly, and this means that many people in the UK will be considering going abroad on their holidays. If you’re a diabetic, it is particularly important for you to plan appropriately for your holiday, as many aspects of your daily routine and medication schedule may need to be changed. As well as the additional considerations you must take into account with foreign travel as a diabetic, insurance premiums can also be higher as a result of the added perceived risks.

insurancewith: are committed to helping the sufferers of many illnesses and debilitating conditions to be able to confidently travel abroad, knowing that they are covered by travel insurance that is not only comprehensive, but fair. insurancewith: created a specific travel insurance policy; insurancewith: Diabetes to combat this. As insurancewith: has gained an in depth understanding of diabetes, from extensive work with diabetes charities, and is therefore far better positioned than other insurance companies to offer a superior deal on travel insurance for diabetics.

When preparing for a holiday, travel insurance is exceptionally important, but should be far from the only consideration. This is no different for diabetics, and in this article we intend to set out exactly which steps and precautions you should take if you have diabetes and intend to travel abroad this summer.

Medication

In 2011 alone 26 million pieces of luggage went missing worldwide; this is a staggering statistic in its own right, but when you’re taking essential medication on holiday with you, it becomes that much more concerning. A sensible precaution to take while preparing to go on holiday is to carry twice as much medication as you would normally utilise for the timeframe of your holiday. This way you can split supplies between different pieces of luggage, reducing the likelihood of losing all of it in one go.

It is essential that you carry both diabetic identification and a covering letter from GP. These will not only ensure that you get the correct medical care should something unfortunate happen, but also allow you to carry your essential medication. The benefits of this are clear; in a post 9/11 world, airport security are going to be very hesitant to let you board a plane carrying either syringes, or unexplained medication!

It is also critically important that you store your medication appropriately; insulin in particular can become ineffective if exposed to particularly high or low temperatures, so be mindful of the environment you’ll be holidaying in. Altitude can interfere with specialist medical equipment, glucometers in particular, so if you’re likely to be staying in a dramatically higher or lower locale, it is crucial to check with your GP so you can understand how to counteract the effect.

Management

There are a number of factors geographic, environmental factors that can have a negative effect on diabetes management while on holiday. One to take into account before the plane has even left the UK, is flight delays. No-one enjoys this unfortunate side effect of mass scheduled travel, but as a diabetic these delays can carry additional dangers: make sure you carry additional snacks to deal with any drops in blood sugar!

The particular climate of your destination can also affect glucose and insulin levels, so ensure that you’ve compensated for different time zones when deciding dosage and application time. In extreme heat, ensure that you are replacing lost fluids.

As well as climate, it’s important that you monitor and compensate for any changes in activity level; some people prefer a chilled out holiday by the pool, others an action-packed adventure, but you’ll need to be sure you manage your blood glucose levels in a manner that is appropriate for whichever you have chosen!

Staying safe at the seaside

Holidays mean that loads of families will be heading to the beach for a simple but exciting day out. But although it’s a great day out for all the family, it’s important to avoid some of the things which could lead to injury or an emergency situation. Here’s our guide to staying safe at the seaside:

Swimming

• Beware of strong currents. You can’t tell how strong the current is by sitting on the beach, but once in the water it can quickly pull you under and you can get carried out to sea.
• Every European beach has red and yellow flags to signal which areas are being watched constantly by a lifeguard and are safe to swim in. Make sure you stay within these areas in order to stay safe.
• The red flag means there are strong currents – don’t swim when this flag is flyng.
• Don’t dive into shallow water.
• Waves can be dangerous too, especially if they’re powerful. Make sure you venture into the sea cautiously.
• Make sure someone on shore knows where you are. If you get out of your depth or carried away, they’ll be able to get help. Notify your parents, siblings or friends.
• Never swim on your own, you never know when help might be needed.
• Read the safety signs which can warn you about local dangers, notify you which parts of the beach are safe to swim and remind you about safety tips for the beach.
• If you get into difficulty, stick your hand up and shout for help. The same goes for if you see someone else in difficulty, find a lifeguard as soon as possible or raise the alarm.
• Beware of rockpools, when wet they can be slippery and dangerous. Sharp pieces of rock can also cut your hands and feet so wear sensible shoes and be careful.

 On land

• Use the bins provided for rubbish, and make sure you tread carefully, as some people don’t follow the guidelines and use bins. Rubbish can be well hidden when buried under a covering of sand, and things like broken glass or crushed cans are painful to even an adult’s foot.
• Dispose of barbeques safely and properly, don’t leave them to smoulder on the beach. This can be a fire hazard or could be fallen or trodden on.
• Make sure you apply the right factor sunscreen every 2-3hours. Remember that you can get burnt even when it’s cloudy or if you’re underwater. Wearing a wet t-shirt offers you no protection from the sun, either. Stay protected.

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