In Flight with T1D

We all know how stressful departures, airports and check-ins can be, and, of course, the last thing we want in that moments is our diabetes to worsen the situation... but, unfortunately, we are perfectly aware that stress in general isn't helpful at all in terms of BG management. But don't worry, there are plenty of things we can do to prevent our "beloved" ilness from being the straw that breaks the camel's back, which extend well beyond the common and obvious advice of "packing in advance".

For what concerns your luggage, I always suggest to carry around two times the estimated amount of supplies (insulin, needles, test stripes, lancets, sensors...) you think you would need: you never know what can happen, and, especially if you are travelling abroad, finding the supplies you need in case of emergency could be a serious problem, which we surely want to avoid. Also, a thing you can do to come prepared in the unlucky case your hold luggage gets lost, is to pack some supplies in your hand luggage. And, I beg you, don't be as silly as me: I managed to lost my HAND luggage in a flight back home from New York some years ago! ;(

Furthermore, we also have to take into serious account boarding controls: the last thing we want is not being able to take off becase of some supply which annoys custom officers. Of course, laws can vary considerably from country to country, but a strategy I've found always effective, and which I have adopted since some years ago, is the one of asking my dibetologist to write a short document in which he certifies my need for medical supplies, so that I can show it to the officers.   

Last but not least, our blood glucose levels during the flight are an element which doesn't have to be forgotten, especially in case of long distance travels. Considering that, during the trip, we will be seated most of the time, my suggestion is to adopt a slightly more aggressive behaviour in terms of insulin doses: when you are immobile for a long time, it is way easier to prevent an hypo than an hyper; of course, always act cautiously. Furthermore, I suggest to avoid eating high-carb meals right before your takeoff, so that you can better handle the post-meal BG track. Lastly, if, in case of long flight, you find yourself in the situation of having to eat while you're on the plane, it would be better to observe a longer prebolusing time, since you won't be able to walk or to do any kind of physical exercise to prevent glycaemic spikes after your meal.

Thank you for your time! And now, aren't you curious about some strategies to help you keep your BG stable even when you are travelling in distant and unfamiliar places? If yes, this article is the one for you!