Health Tips For Diabetic Travelers

Traveling is already stressful enough for practically anyone, but it's just that much worse when you have to deal with any sort of physical or mental health ailment. Diabetes can certainly be difficult to manage, and if you are diabetic, the idea of traveling can be nerve wracking for you.

If you are approaching an upcoming trip and are looking for tips on how to stay healthy during the process of traveling to your destination and back, there are fortunately plenty of very helpful resources out there for you to take advantage of. In fact, there is a great article post by Care 2 that delves right into this very topic and provides a wealth of great information. 

The most important thing to do is to be sure to be prepared way ahead of time. You are definitely going to need to make sure that you have access to certain important items, so be sure to call up your hotel or living accommodation before you arrive and ask for a refrigerator (or an empty minibar) for storing your insulin and snacks. You may want to use a toiletries bag for storing these items as well, since these tend to be very portable and easy to carry around. As for what snacks to bring, always be sure that they are non-perishable items, such as protein bars or fruit strips. Trail mix and mixed nuts are also great for stabilizing your blood sugar while you travel. 

When you are away from home, it is still important to do what you can to make sure you keep up the same eating habits while traveling. You may want to set timers to remind you of when you need to eat or take your insulin. Another good reason to carry non perishable snacks with you is because you may have to deal with delays or slow food service, which could really throw off your routine.

If you are eating out, be sure to ask for any sort of sauce or dressing to be placed on the side of the dish you have ordered, so that you can control what enters your body. Many restaurants are willing and able to accommodate for patrons with certain dietary restrictions, so if you feel comfortable, let them know about your diabetes and they may be able to offer up some healthy substitutions for a few of the items on the restaurant's menu.

Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of peddhapati