Travelling to Japan (HELP!)

[Dana_Heath]

MASS PANIC
is the summary of this morning when I realised it's just over a month before I travel to Japan for 2 weeks.
I've so many questions and I want educated answers, as opposed to recommendations that you find on google or something.
If you can answer any of these questions- you are my life saver <3

Needles- Hand luggage or suitcase?
Insulin (definitely hand luggage I know)

Airport problems?
do I need anything other than my doctors note and passport to prove my medical identity?

I'm insured, and I'm aware Japan isn't in Europe (We've got a 3 hour stop at Copenhagen)- should I take my EHIC card?

Japanese medical bracelets- HELP! I had a French one when I travelled with Scouts to France, but I can't find Japanese ones anywhere, any ideas?

Useful things to be able to say?

How to know what has lots of sugar in it (-certain words or something to look for on a packet maybe?)?

Libre arm sensor- will the security electric gate thing interfer with it? will it cause a problem?

does everything medical need to be declared- meaning it should be all be in hand luggage?

if there is ANYTHING else you think I'd benefit from knowing, please please comment as I'm quite nervous!

 

[Books1]

Yes needles in hand luggage I take my current prescription as proof of all my medication. My libre has not caused any problems going through detectors etc
Remember to enjoy yourself.

Frances

 

[Fruitella]

Hi, just in case you haven't come across this site: http://www.70-130.com/travel/tips/japan-diabetes-travel-advice/
It has a food label image showing the term for carbs and a few phrases to practise - or take a photo of. Lucky you to be going at cherry blossom time.

 

[Deleted Account]

I completely agree with @Books1 - but not just needles and insulin... everything diabetes related in hand luggage and twice as much of everything than you think you may need. If you have refillable pens, that means spare pens.
Diabetes kit has not sense of occasion and may die or get lost at the most inappropriate moment. So take back ups with you.

Your EHIC Card is valid in Denmark and takes up so little room, I would take it with me for your stop over in Copenhagen. Keep it in your hand luggage because you are unlikely to see the rest of your luggage at the airport.

Make sure you have a note of the emergency number to call for your insurance in your hand luggage too.

Many people ask about sharps containers when travelling. I usually pick up a bottle of water at the airport and use this for sharps on my trip. I just decant into my official sharps container when I get home.

If you are on basal bolus injections, you need to think about when you are going to take your basal insulin because of the time difference. I usually move my dosage time an hour or two a day coming up to my trip so I am not taking it in the middle of the night when I am away.

I have never been to Japan and I am incredibly envious of you. Have an amazing trip.

 

[Dana_Heath]

Hi, just in case you haven't come across this site: http://www.70-130.com/travel/tips/japan-diabetes-travel-advice/
It has a food label image showing the term for carbs and a few phrases to practise - or take a photo of. Lucky you to be going at cherry blossom time.

what a godsend!!! thank you so much for this link!

 

[Choosehappy]

MASS PANIC
is the summary of this morning when I realised it's just over a month before I travel to Japan for 2 weeks.
I've so many questions and I want educated answers, as opposed to recommendations that you find on google or something.
If you can answer any of these questions- you are my life saver <3

Needles- Hand luggage or suitcase?
Insulin (definitely hand luggage I know)

Airport problems?
do I need anything other than my doctors note and passport to prove my medical identity?

I'm insured, and I'm aware Japan isn't in Europe (We've got a 3 hour stop at Copenhagen)- should I take my EHIC card?

Japanese medical bracelets- HELP! I had a French one when I travelled with Scouts to France, but I can't find Japanese ones anywhere, any ideas?

Useful things to be able to say?

How to know what has lots of sugar in it (-certain words or something to look for on a packet maybe?)?

Libre arm sensor- will the security electric gate thing interfer with it? will it cause a problem?

does everything medical need to be declared- meaning it should be all be in hand luggage?

if there is ANYTHING else you think I'd benefit from knowing, please please comment as I'm quite nervous!

Hi there, I can see this post was a long long time ago but I have recently been diagnosed and we love Japan and travelled there pre my diagnosis, this time around I will be travelling with type 1 diabetes so I just wondered how you found your trip? How did eating out and such go?

 

[Dana_Heath]

Heya! Dream come true honestly! I memorised some key words (I can remember insulin is like in-shu-ween” but honestly it was brilliant.
Idk if it was the time difference or anxiety or excitement but I had perfect blood sugars whilst there despite all the stuff I was eating. Test very regularly as some places use sugar in their rice bowls, others don’t. I basically injected based on portions on the English menus they had OR googled it or in some scenarios used my own judgement.

I worried for nothing- get more people gawking here than I did in Japan when I injected

Know where your closest vending machine is for water, sugary drinks, closest place to eat etc. Really pays off whilst your body adjusts to the time difference

Have an incredible time and try to find a little supermarket that does clothing- captions are well worth reading on them xx

 

[Choosehappy]

Heya! Dream come true honestly! I memorised some key words (I can remember insulin is like in-shu-ween” but honestly it was brilliant.
Idk if it was the time difference or anxiety or excitement but I had perfect blood sugars whilst there despite all the stuff I was eating. Test very regularly as some places use sugar in their rice bowls, others don’t. I basically injected based on portions on the English menus they had OR googled it or in some scenarios used my own judgement.

I worried for nothing- get more people gawking here than I did in Japan when I injected

Know where your closest vending machine is for water, sugary drinks, closest place to eat etc. Really pays off whilst your body adjusts to the time difference

Have an incredible time and try to find a little supermarket that does clothing- captions are well worth reading on them xx

Oh my I am so so so happy to hear! I love Japan and was so worried about how my new diagnosis may affect our future trips, of course when covid is less of threat. But I think I am currently overthinking a lot, I was only diagnosed last week. I’m sure I’ll get the hang of everything within the next few months!

 

[Dana_Heath]

Oh my I am so so so happy to hear! I love Japan and was so worried about how my new diagnosis may affect our future trips, of course when covid is less of threat. But I think I am currently overthinking a lot, I was only diagnosed last week. I’m sure I’ll get the hang of everything within the next few months!

Speak to your diabetes specialist and they can give you some great advice on how to manage the time change etc. Ask for a sunflower lanyard when you get to the UK airport

 

[Choosehappy]

Speak to your diabetes specialist and they can give you some great advice on how to manage the time change etc. Ask for a sunflower lanyard when you get to the UK airport

Thank you Dana, my mum got me a sunflower lanyard bless her. My partner isn’t happy about me going out after my diagnosis due to covid but for me getting out and about is helping me process it all!! So the lanyard is good for reassurance