Traveling is a great opportunity to explore new places, meet new people and eat some amazing food. It’s also a great way to gain weight if you’re not careful about what you choose to eat and how much exercise you get! If you have diabetes or take insulin for your diabetes, this can make traveling even trickier. Luckily though, some tips can help keep your blood sugar levels in check while on the road:
Check your blood glucose levels more often
If you are traveling by car, you can check your blood glucose levels at rest stops. This will allow you to adjust your diet or medication as necessary to control blood glucose levels. If there is a delay, these changes may also be necessary.
A delayed flight is an example of this scenario where having extra supplies could help keep your blood glucose levels on track during the delay period. If you are traveling by plane, checking blood glucose levels on the plane may help you make small dietary changes that can help maintain good diabetic control while flying long distances.
Eat before you leave
If you have diabetes, keeping your blood sugar levels in check before leaving home is important. This will ensure that your insulin is at the right level for a safe drive and that your body is ready for any possible changes in diet.
Bring Snacks and glucose tablets
When traveling, you want to bring snacks that are easy to eat and will last a long time. Try bringing high protein, low-sugar foods such as nuts and seeds. You can also bring glucose tablets which can be used in case of an emergency. If you are diabetic or pre-diabetic, it’s important to carry your medications with you at all times.
Extra insulin and diabetes medicines
If you’re traveling abroad and are on insulin or other diabetes medicines, you need to be prepared with extra supplies.
Keep in mind that bringing extra insulin is not a guarantee that it will be available where you’re going. It’s a good idea to bring enough medication for an extended period in case of problems getting medications while traveling.
Drink plenty of water
Drinking plenty of water is always a good idea, whether traveling or not. Water helps keep your blood pressure in check, keeping it from rising and falling too quickly, which can be dangerous to your health when stressed out. It also helps keep you alert and energized throughout the day, so you don’t feel exhausted by midday.
Diabetes professionals like Tandem Diabetes say, “If blood sugar (or glucose) drops too low, the body tells the liver to release a type of sugar called glycogen, which is designed to help restore balance when the body perceives a problem.”
Helping with stress management, staying healthy on the go, and drinking water will help keep your sugar levels stable by reducing cravings for sugary snacks, especially those high-carb ones that aren’t so helpful when trying to avoid weight gain while traveling!
While it may seem like there are many things to do and think about, the bottom line is that travel doesn’t have to be as stressful for people with diabetes. Just be extra careful and prepared when you’re planning your next trip.
