DIABETES AND INSULIN PUMP THERAPY TOP TIPS FOR TRAVELLING Information Leaflet Your Health. Our Priority.
Page 2 of 6 People with diabetes who use an insulin pump can still enjoy foreign travel. However it is important that all travel is planned in advance and that advice is sought wherever necessary. Before you travel: Have all the necessary vaccinations at least two weeks before you travel. The vaccinations may make you feel under the weather for a while. Take an EHIC card with you if you are travelling in Europe. These are can be ordered online or by telephoning an automated service on 0300 330 1350. Ensure you have adequate health/travel insurance which covers you for diabetes. Inform your travel company and insurer that you have diabetes and use an insulin pump Contact your airline to inform them that you wear an insulin pump. Take ID cards and / or bracelets. In some countries a letter stating that you have diabetes may be required. Obtain a letter from your diabetes care provider stating that you have diabetes and wear an insulin pump. Request additional supplies of medication and equipment from your GP. Take twice as much medication and equipment with you as you think you may need. Request additional supplies of medication and equipment from your GP and insulin pump company. Take twice as much as you think you may need. Request a holiday pump at least 6 weeks before you travel (available from Medtronic and Animas). Ensure that you also have injectable supplies of insulin and know how to revert to injections if necessary. Find out what types and strengths of insulin are available in the area in which you will be travelling (contact the relevant pharmaceutical company). If you will be travelling across time zones contact your diabetes care provider for advice regarding adjustment of your pump rates. To help your nurse or doctor, please have the following information available: UK departure and arrival times. Local arrival and departure times. Number of hours your holiday destination is ahead or behind UK time. Length of flights If you have a long flight or are travelling to a hot country with limited facilities for keeping your insulin cool consider purchasing a cool pouch / pack.
Page 3 of 6 Ensure that all supplies of medication and equipment are packed in your hand luggage. The temperature in the hold of an aero-plane may freeze insulin and deactivate it. In addition suitcases occasionally go missing. What to take/organise (Checklist): Item Vaccinations EHIC card Travel insurance Travel company documents Airline ID Card/Passport Travel letter from diabetes care provider Advise travel companions what to do in an emergency Advice re time zones Sunscreen/ sunglasses Cool bag Usual hypo treatments Types and strengths of insulin at holiday destination Reservoirs Infusion sets and cannulas/ infusion set inserter Vials of insulin and syringes (if taking vials) Batteries for pump (and handset or glucometer) Holiday pump (if available) Supplies of injectable insulin pens/vials/needles Sharps guard/bin or needles clipper
Page 4 of 6 Know how to revert back to injections if necessary (see advice at the end of the leaflet) Contact number for your pump company Going through security: Keep your travel letter handy to show to security officers. Keep all medication in original labelled boxes Split your medication and equipment between you and your travelling companion. If one set of hand luggage becomes lost, you will still have some medication. Your insulin pump must not go through any x-ray machines including the body scanner and must not be scanned by the mobile wand. If you are asked to go through the body scanner your pump must be removed first. Remember to remove your holiday pump from your hand luggage before putting it through the x-ray machine. On the aeroplane: There is no need to request specific diabetic meals. While on Holiday: Remember not to expose insulin to very hot temperatures as this can deactivate it. Store your insulin in a cool place. On arrival find out how to obtain medical help (if needed) Never walk barefoot Remember to use plenty of sunscreen as sunburn is dangerous Continue to monitor your blood glucose levels regularly If you become ill whilst away on holiday, your blood sugar levels may run higher. If this is the case, you will probably require more insulin at this time (remember the temporary basal rate feature on the pump). Drink plenty of fluids when it is hot to prevent dehydration Be careful with alcohol. Alcohol can lower your blood glucose levels quite dramatically. However, two to three units per day are unlikely to affect your control. If you do drink excess amounts of alcohol always have a carbohydrate based snack before going to bed.
Page 5 of 6 Insulin may be absorbed faster in warmer climates. Regular monitoring of blood glucose levels is important to allow dose adjustments to be made if necessary Remember NEVER remove your pump for more than 30 60 minutes (i.e. if going swimming). If you remove your pump for more than 60 minutes you risk diabetic keto acidosis. To work out how much insulin to take when transferring back to insulin injections: Calculate the average Total Daily Dose (TDD) of insulin currently being used. This can be found in one of the pump menu screens. Add 10% to this total. e.g. TDD = 40 units + 10% 40 x 10% = 4 100 Therefore, 40 + 4 = 44 units Approximately, one third of this total should be the long acting (basal) insulin and the remainder divided up to give 3 meal doses of Rapid acting insulin. e.g. 44 3 = 14.66. Therefore the basal (long acting) insulin dose 14 units 30 units are remaining. 30 3 = 10 units. Therefore, approximately 10 units of Rapid acting insulin should be taken with each meal. Alternatively if you carbohydrate count then continue to do this with their rapid acting (mealtime and corrective) insulin. Contact Details Diabetes Specialist Nurses 1 st Floor Kingsgate House Wellington Road North Stockport SK4 1LW Tel: 0161 426 5408 E-mail: snt-tr.diabetesteam@nhs.net
Page 6 of 6 If you would like this leaflet in a different format, for example, in large print, or on audiotape, or for people with learning disabilities, please contact: Patient and Customer Services, Poplar Suite, Stepping Hill Hospital. Tel: 0161 419 5678. Email: PCS@stockport.nhs.uk. Our smoke free policy Smoking is not allowed anywhere on our sites. Please read our leaflet 'Policy on Smoke Free NHS Premises' to find out more. Leaflet number MED138 Publication date August 2015 Review date August 2017 Department Diabetes Location Kingsgate House and Stepping Hill Hospital