"I tell the patients, especially patients with type 1 diabetes, controlling blood sugar frequently while traveling, especially if going to another continent a different time zone. For very easy to lose control of glucose when you exit the routine, "said Dr. Fernando Ovalle, director of the UAB Multidisciplinary Diabetes Clinic and a senior researcher at the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center, in a release as quoted by Health Day edition of December 23, 2011.
When traveling in the U.S. or most countries in Europe, Ovalle recommend that patients take the drug package twice than usual is required. But if traveling to locations that are expected to be difficult to achieve the source of drugs, it is advisable to bring three to four times the package. Keep a package of the drug in carry-on bag and take the bag wherever you go. So if you need medication immediately, no matter even if your luggage was already entered into the aircraft baggage or flight delays.
To minimize the risks at the airport, take the letter and prescription from your doctor. This letter contains the information that you are in treatment for diabetes (including having to take pills or insulin injections) and a list of injection equipment, insulin, and various other things necessary for your treatment.
If traveling to different continents, resulting in differences in time, begin to familiarize themselves with increasing the amount of insulin that is injected a few days before departure. According to Ovalle, when the time changes of more than two hours, ask your doctor to make a new dosage schedule in order to reduce the risk of error.
Ovalle said, if traveling long distances, make sure a lot of moving and walking at least every hour. People with diabetes are at risk of blood clots and the move could help prevent it.
In the meantime, continued Ovalle, patients with insulin pumps have to be careful when flying. Research shows that changes in cabin pressure during flight can cause an insulin pump to send too much insulin when the plane up.
"People with diabetes are highly sensitive to insulin release tool should consider before taking off and when the plane landed, also check the supply of insulin to check the water bubble when it landed," said Ovalle.
