Type 1 diabetes and vacation

Vacation should be as carefree as possible — even with type 1 diabetes. It’s important to be well-prepared before you go. This makes a real difference once you’re on the road. Be sure to take your type 1 diabetes into account.

GOOD TO KNOW:

To enjoy a worry-free holiday, preparation is key. Make sure to arrange a travel certificate or a loan pump in advance.

Before you leave, check that all essential items are packed. Use our packing list to help with this.

Bring enough food and drinks for the journey. Be extra prepared if you're traveling by plane.

Store your insulin properly to prevent it from becoming too warm or too cold.

Weather affects blood glucose levels. In hot conditions, you may need less insulin.

Prepared for vacation

Good preparation makes a big difference when going on vacation with diabetes. It’s helpful to check certain things well in advance.

Here’s what you can arrange ahead of time:

A travel certificate: This is useful at security checkpoints, customs, and border control. If you are being treated at Diabeter, you can request the travel certificate online via their website.
A backup insulin pump: For some insulin pumps, you can request an extra pump to take with you on vacation. This gives you an alternative in case your pump unexpectedly breaks. Availability depends on the pump manufacturer.
Insulin information: Make sure you have a document with key details about your insulin use, such as dosage and pump settings. These details are usually available in the software that also displays glucose data, like Carelink or Glooko.
Important phone numbers: While traveling, you’ll want to quickly reach someone if something goes wrong with your diabetes management. Save important numbers in your phone or write them down — such as your pump manufacturer’s customer service or Diabeter’s emergency line.
Travel insurance: With type 1 diabetes, having good travel insurance is important. Your health insurance covers many costs, but extended treatment abroad may incur extra expenses. Travel insurance helps cover these.
Health insurance details: In case you need medical care while traveling, it’s helpful to have your health insurance information readily available. Also, check your insurer’s rules for receiving care abroad in advance.

Checklist for vacation

Once you’ve arranged the most important things, it’s time to start packing. A checklist helps ensure you don’t forget anything. Diabeter is happy to support you in having a carefree vacation. That’s why we’ve created a checklist that you can customize to your personal situation.

Essential Supplies to Take on Vacation

These items are a must when traveling with type 1 diabetes:

Insulin pens, extra pens, and enough needles. This also applies to people using an insulin pump.
Enough sensors: It’s wise to bring more than you usually use. Vacation activities may cause sensors to come loose more easily than usual.
Extra insulin: Bring more than you need to avoid running out — for example, if a vial gets too warm and becomes unusable.
A blood glucose meter, enough test strips, and lancets. This also applies to people using flash glucose monitoring (FGM) or continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).
Glucagon: Preferably the nasal spray version. A glucagon hypokit is also an option.
Hypo treatments: Choose what works best for you — for example, glucose tablets, sugary lemonade, or cookies.
A cooling bag or box: Use this to keep insulin cool. Special Frio cooling pouches are available. A thermos flask also works if rinsed daily with cold water.
A ketone meter and matching test strips: Useful for checking ketones when blood sugar levels are high for an extended period.
Important information: Handy phone numbers, your insulin dosage, a travel certificate, and documents from your health and travel insurance.

Extra Supplies When Using an Insulin Pump

If you use an insulin pump, there are a few additional things to keep in mind. Don’t forget:

Infusion sets, tubing, and cartridges for the pump.
Enough backup supplies: On vacation, you may need more sensors and infusion sets than usual. Also consider items you don’t normally use, such as insulin pens or a blood glucose meter.
A device or method to read data from the pump: This allows your diabetes care team at Diabeter to assist you remotely if needed.
A backup pump: Only if provided by your insulin pump manufacturer.

On the road during vacation

Sometimes the journey to your vacation destination can be long. That’s why it’s important to always bring enough food and drinks for the trip.

Make sure to pack food you’re familiar with, so you don’t have to skip meals. And don’t forget to bring items to treat a hypo, such as glucose tablets or sugary lemonade.

Carbohydrate List by Country

The dietitians at Diabeter have created a special carbohydrate list for various countries. It shows the number of carbohydrates in foods from the country you’re traveling to.

This special list is available for many countries, including France, Italy, Spain, and Turkey.

It makes it easier to enjoy delicious food while on vacation.

Flying with Diabetes

If you're traveling by plane, there are extra things to consider. Always pack essential items in your carry-on luggage. This reduces the risk of losing the items you really need. Insulin and glucagon must always be in your carry-on — in the cargo hold, they can freeze and become ineffective.

Make sure insulin and glucagon are in their original packaging with pharmacy labels. This lowers the chance of issues at security checkpoints.

At security, inform staff that you have diabetes and are carrying related supplies. Before departure, check with the manufacturer of your insulin pump or glucose sensor whether you can pass through the security gates. Some diabetes technology may be sensitive to these scanners. Usually, it’s not a problem and you’ll pass through security without issues. However, a security officer may perform a pat-down, checking your clothing to ensure you’re not carrying prohibited items.

Sometimes, airport security may check your pump for explosives or drugs by swiping it with a wand. We recommend allowing this to happen. Often, you won’t even need to disconnect the pump. If you do, it will be returned to you as quickly as possible.

Storing insulin

Many factors affect how well insulin works. The most important rule: insulin must never freeze, because it will no longer be effective. Insulin should also not get too warm.

Heat reduces insulin’s effectiveness, and you may find you need less insulin. Try to store insulin at the right temperature: cool, but not frozen.

Also make sure your insulin pump doesn’t sit in the sun too long, for example by the pool or at the beach. It helps to place the pump under a pile of clothes or a towel. If the pump is attached to your body, this can be more difficult — in that case, you can cover it with a piece of clothing. Don’t worry too much: a single hot day won’t immediately make insulin ineffective.

Another important consideration: is your insulin pump waterproof? Check this with the manufacturer. If your pump is not waterproof, never go into the water with it. A crack or tear in the pump means it’s definitely not waterproof. So be sure to check before jumping into the pool or the sea. If the pump isn’t waterproof, disconnect it to keep it safe.

Warm temperatures

Heat affects more than just insulin—it also influences blood glucose levels. Typically, higher temperatures mean you need less insulin, as insulin works more effectively when it’s warm.

However, the degree of impact varies from person to person and situation to situation. For some people, blood glucose levels actually rise when it’s hot. Insulin also becomes less effective if the body becomes dehydrated. This can happen when you sweat due to the heat but don’t drink enough water. So always make sure to stay well hydrated.