Author: Vivian Brennan
Source: articledashboard.com

Travel can be a lot of fun, but it takes some advance planning. People with diabetes have to plan a little more. Here are a few things to keep in mind about your insulin when you head out for that dream vacation.

Your Blood Sugar

When you are traveling, it is important to monitor your blood sugar more closely. This means checking your blood sugar every four hours when you are awake. Travel can be stressful, which can raise your blood sugar level. Don’t treat your blood sugar without monitoring it, and monitor it to make sure that you are giving the correct dosages of medication and/or insulin.

Insulin Storage

Keep your insulin with you when you travel, in your carry-on or purse. Insulin needs to stay in a fairly moderate temperature zone, and as such, cannot go with your luggage in the depressurized compartment. Also, if there were ever a baggage handling mishap, you would want your insulin to be with you: if your bags end up in Minneapolis-St. Paul’s when you are in Sao Paulo, you want to make sure you have your insulin.

Insulin does not need to be refrigerated. To keep your insulin at moderate temperatures, however, consider the climate in which you are traveling. Often, keeping your insulin in an insulated container or thermos will be enough to keep it cool in warm temperatures. If you are someplace very warm, however, you might consider keeping some frozen water bottles in your insulated container as well, which will help keep your insulin even colder. If you are going to be in cold climates, perhaps skiing, keep your insulin close to your body so that it stays warm.

Storing your insulin on a trip is another matter to deal with. Don’t leave your insulin in the glove compartment of a car, where temperatures can vary. Backpacks can also get very warm in the sun. Keep your insulin someplace where you can reach it.

X-rays

Insulin manufacturers have a warning on their insulin that you should not expose insulin to x-rays. This does not mean that being x-rayed once or twice as you carry your luggage on should be a problem. However, if you are going to be traveling a lot, and going through many security checks, you can ask for your insulin to be visually examined. You should also be cautious to make sure that your insulin is not in the x-ray machine for too long, so asking for a visual examination is never a bad idea.

Packing

When you go on a trip, be sure to bring an extra supply of insulin and medication with you. You want to have all of the medication with you. If you do need to get medication while you are in a foreign country, see our advice below. Be sure to pack extra syringes and extras of all of the materials you generally use to monitor and care for your diabetes.

Insulin Conversions

In the United States, insulin comes in the strength U-100. Not every country has insulin standardized, and some countries offer varying strengths of insulin. If you must get insulin when you are away, check the strength to make sure it is equivalent.

If you have to get insulin while you are away, get the same kind of insulin that you are normally prescribed. If you cannot get the same brand, get the same formulation in a different brand (for instance, if you are on Novolog and cannot find any, get Humalog). A pharmacist or doctor can help you establish which insulin is equivalent.

Consult a doctor

If you have to pick up insulin when you are in a foreign country, get the kind of insulin that you are used to. This particularly means that you should not switch from a slow-acting to a fast-acting insulin, or vice versa. These types of changes should always be made with medical supervision.

Go to a doctor that you trust in a foreign country. Consider calling home to get references if possibly, or ask a friend in your new location.

Insulin-dependence can be difficult to manage, particularly when traveling. But with a little forethought and some information, you can plan an exciting getaway that still maintains your health.

Author: Vivian L. Brennan
Source: isnare.com

Travel can be a lot of fun, but it takes some advance planning. People with diabetes have to plan a little more. Here are a few things to keep in mind about your insulin when you head out for that dream vacation.

Your Blood Sugar

When you are traveling, it is important to monitor your blood sugar more closely. This means checking your blood sugar every four hours when you are awake. Travel can be stressful, which can raise your blood sugar level. Don’t treat your blood sugar without monitoring it, and monitor it to make sure that you are giving the correct dosages of medication and/or insulin.

Insulin Storage

Keep your insulin with you when you travel, in your carry-on or purse. Insulin needs to stay in a fairly moderate temperature zone, and as such, cannot go with your luggage in the depressurized compartment. Also, if there were ever a baggage handling mishap, you would want your insulin to be with you: if your bags end up in Minneapolis-St. Paul’s when you are in Sao Paulo, you want to make sure you have your insulin.

Insulin does not need to be refrigerated. To keep your insulin at moderate temperatures, however, consider the climate in which you are traveling. Often, keeping your insulin in an insulated container or thermos will be enough to keep it cool in warm temperatures. If you are someplace very warm, however, you might consider keeping some frozen water bottles in your insulated container as well, which will help keep your insulin even colder. If you are going to be in cold climates, perhaps skiing, keep your insulin close to your body so that it stays warm.

Storing your insulin on a trip is another matter to deal with. Don’t leave your insulin in the glove compartment of a car, where temperatures can vary. Backpacks can also get very warm in the sun. Keep your insulin someplace where you can reach it.

X-rays

Insulin manufacturers have a warning on their insulin that you should not expose insulin to x-rays. This does not mean that being x-rayed once or twice as you carry your luggage on should be a problem. However, if you are going to be traveling a lot, and going through many security checks, you can ask for your insulin to be visually examined. You should also be cautious to make sure that your insulin is not in the x-ray machine for too long, so asking for a visual examination is never a bad idea.

Packing

When you go on a trip, be sure to bring an extra supply of insulin and medication with you. You want to have all of the medication with you. If you do need to get medication while you are in a foreign country, see our advice below. Be sure to pack extra syringes and extras of all of the materials you generally use to monitor and care for your diabetes.

Insulin Conversions

In the United States, insulin comes in the strength U-100. Not every country has insulin standardized, and some countries offer varying strengths of insulin. If you must get insulin when you are away, check the strength to make sure it is equivalent.

If you have to get insulin while you are away, get the same kind of insulin that you are normally prescribed. If you cannot get the same brand, get the same formulation in a different brand (for instance, if you are on Novolog and cannot find any, get Humalog). A pharmacist or doctor can help you establish which insulin is equivalent.

Consult a doctor

If you have to pick up insulin when you are in a foreign country, get the kind of insulin that you are used to. This particularly means that you should not switch from a slow-acting to a fast-acting insulin, or vice versa. These types of changes should always be made with medical supervision.

Go to a doctor that you trust in a foreign country. Consider calling home to get references if possibly, or ask a friend in your new location.

Insulin-dependence can be difficult to manage, particularly when traveling. But with a little forethought and some information, you can plan an exciting getaway that still maintains your health.

Author: Yvonne A Jones
Source: ezinearticles.com

When someone has an ongoing illness vacation travel plans or travel for any reason have to be approached with much forethought. Traveling with diabetes is no exception. Strategic planning must be done before leaving for the trip, as well as during the trip. It is strongly recommended that you discuss your travel plans with your health care team so that they can make recommendations that will insure you are protected while away from home. These might include locating or recommending, when possible, a medical team or facility in the area to which you are traveling as well as specific things to do and extra supplies to take with you when you travel.

Diabetes is affected by many external as well as internal factors and it is amazing the effect these can have on blood sugar levels. Let’s examine some of these factors.

1) Changes in activity: It is generally understood that being physically active is beneficial for lowering your blood sugar or glucose levels. It also improves the ability of your body to absorb and use insulin. On the other hand, some types of activities can have a negative effect on your glucose levels. For example, if you decide to go on a hiking trip over hilly countryside while carrying heavy bags, you might want to discuss this with your doctor first. Lifting heavy weights and taking long walks over rough terrain could increase the pressure in the blood vessels in your eyes and make diabetic complications to your eyes worse. You could also develop blisters to your feet, and if these are not treated promptly they can result in complications. Unfortunately what started out as minor foot concerns for many diabetics have led to amputations.

2) Immunization shots: Usually these shots have very little adverse effects on a non-diabetic patient. However, like any other medicines or food that can have an effect, they can disturb your blood sugar levels. You doctor or health team may recommend that you schedule immunization shots a few weeks, as much as four weeks, before you’re ready to travel. The goal is to start your trip with your glucose levels as normal as possible.

3) Changes in Time Zones: For patients who are on medication, this is an area that has to be calculated carefully and is best documented for proper self-management since you could leave one area at 1:00 p.m. and arrive in another part of the world at 7:00 a.m. In additional, proper rest must be a part of diabetes management.

In large numbers patients are finding that they have been able to reduce the effects of diabetes and control the disease. However, if your diabetes is at a level that you are insulin dependent, traveling can still be fun but strategic planning must be implemented so that if medical attention is needed, you can receive it promptly.

I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes four years ago and have worked on controlling it with diet and exercise. Unfortunately I was not consistent until I discovered the Diabetes Reversal Report. This report explains in great detail not only what diabetes is but discusses factors that we may have not considered that can negatively impact our blood sugar levels and our bodies’ ability to absorb insulin.

I particularly like that the report introduces different phases so that changes can be made gradually and effectively. I now have a blueprint on how to control my diabetes effectively and I invite you to experience the benefits yourself at http://www.saygoodbyetodiabetes.com.

If you are a home-based or small business owner, I also invite you to visit my website at http://www.mysuccesscircleonline.com for valuable articles and tips.