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LWD - Chapter H

Holidays

Discuss holidays with the diabetes team before going away particularly if you are going abroad. Plan well in advance and get supplies ready a week or two before. Ask for a travel letter from clinic as this may be required at the airport.

family at airport

1. Exercise

Many holidays involve more exercise - swimming, walking etc. Monitor glucose levels to see the effect of the extra activity. You may need to make insulin adjustments to reduce the risk of more frequent hypoglycaemia.

  • If on a pump, use a higher target for the duration of the holiday, and/or activity mode.
  • If on injections, reduce the long-acting insulin (Levemir, Tresiba) by 10-20% on the day you leave the UK.
  • Food insulin: keep your usual ratio to start with, but this may need to be weakened e.g. 1 unit per 10g carbs could weaken to 1 unit per 15g carbs.
  • You may need small extra snacks without insulin if you are exercising a lot.

2. Temperature

Hot Temperature: insulin needs to be kept out of direct sunlight, this is particularly important with tubed pumps, so put them under a towel or clothing when in the sun. Use a cool bag/ Frio bag to carry insulin. Keep spare insulin in a fridge if you have access to one. When you return from holiday start with new insulin that has not been away with you.
Cold temperature: Insulin does not tolerate being frozen, so keep it somewhere warm. Wear pumps under clothing and protected from freezing temperatures if you are skiing or walking outdoors in cold temperatures.

3. Time zones

Local flights to mainland Europe require no change to insulin but a country more than 3-4 hours time change requires some planning. Remember to change the time on any devices, so that the right amount of insulin is delivered at the right time.

4. Spare equipment

Make sure you have enough insulin, pump equipment, sensors, needles and glucose checking kit. If on a pump you must have emergency pens and insulin in case the pump fails. You may need to go on injections until the pump can be replaced and need to know your insulin doses in case this happens.

Do not put spare insulin in your main luggage as it will be too cold in the luggage hold of the plane and it may get lost. Split spare equipment up into different hand luggage. Insulin should always go in hand luggage.

5. Alcohol

  • If you want to drink alcohol it is best to combine it with food.
  • If you are drinking a lot you are at risk of hypos, remember the symptoms of hypo and being drunk can be the same.
  • Make sure your friends know what to do and how to treat a hypo.
  • Carry some ID saying you have diabetes.

6. Insurance

Make sure you have health insurance covering your diabetes. Admission to hospital abroad can be very expensive.

Your insulin pump should already be on home insurance - check whether this is covered if stolen or broken on holiday, or if it needs to be listed on travel insurance.