Are you want to go summer trip with your type 1 daibetic child ?
Parents of children with type 1 diabetes know that keeping their child healthy is a 24*7 job. They want to complete it with full efforts. And while you might have put several things in your life on hold after your child’s diagnosis, you should not let T1D discourage you from traveling and enjoying the bonding experience of a family vacation. Remember your child is a child first…they just happen to have diabetes, and that shouldn’t deter them or the family from what could be a great time. So you have to take all these things that your child needs.
PACK A MEDICAL ID FOR YOUR CHILD
Wearing him/her medical ID bracelet that has his/her disease, personal information, and emergency contact information on it can save. It helps quicken the emergency care process if paramedics are needed, as they’ll know exactly how to help you. It can save precious time in these situations.
PACK ENOUGH INSULIN AND ITS PLACE
Keep enough insulin and monitoring supplies with you. Do not put insulin in the baggage compartment
of a plane, as pressure and temperature can damage the insulin. You must keep it cold.
KNOW HOW TO SAY SUGAR IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
While traveling, it helped YOU to have screenshots of the word “diabetes” in different languages depending on where you were. Most of the time, you just used them to ward off people who were trying to sell you sugary drinks, but they could have been vital in emergencies.
UPDATE THE TIME IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY
Update the time in the pump as you get to a new time zone. Consider this also for those people taking Lantus or Levemir – 10 p.m. in one place might be 3 a.m. in another destination, and who wants to be injecting at 3 a.m. during vacation!
CONSULT HEALTH TEAM BEFORE TRIP
Consult with your diabetes team before you leave and review travel plans. Bring a letter from him or her indicating that your child has diabetes and needs to keep their supplies with them at all times. And take proper guidelines on how to adjust insulin if you’re traveling to a different time zone.
PACK SUPPLIES IN TWO SEPARATE BAGS
When traveling, there is always the risk of bags getting lost or stolen. Because of this, you’ve realized the importance of dividing your child’s insulin into two separate bags. If one is lost or stolen, it is crucial to have a backup that will last until you can acquire more.
TRAVEL COOLER PLACE BUT NOT ICY PLACE
Travel coolers are a great way to keep insulin cool at the beach, but don’t place it directly near ice – wrap it in a towel, for instance. Be mindful about hotel refrigerators in terms of temperature regulation – keep supplies away from the freezer section and perhaps wrapped in a towel.
DIET YOUR CHILD EATS
You can find healthy food options at the airport or a roadside restaurant:
- Fruit, nuts, sandwiches, yogurt
- Salads with chicken or fish (skip the dried fruit and croutons)
- Eggs and omelets
- Burgers with a lettuce wrap instead of a bun
- Fajitas (skip the tortillas and rice)
LOCATION YOU HAVE TO STAY
Just in case, locate pharmacies and clinics close to where you’re staying.
TO KNOW THE EMERGENCY NUMBER
If traveling to a foreign destination, know the equivalent emergency number for 911. Know how to say that your child has diabetes and a low blood glucose level in that language
AIR SAFETY RULE
People with diabetes are exempt from the 3.4 oz. Liquid rule for medicines, fast-acting carbs like juice, and gel packs to keep insulin cool.
CHECK BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVEL FREQUENTLY
Check blood sugar levels frequently if increasing activity or in places of high altitude. Insulin amounts might need changing.
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