1st diabetic holiday - advice needed

[joelcam]

Hi, I am going on my first overseas holiday since being a T1 in May. Going to Lanzarote with the family. A few questions if anyone can help please.

1) Do I take my insulin, needles and other diabetes stuff with me as hand luggage or does it go in my case
2) Do I need to ‘declare’ this to anyone at the airport?
3) Do I need anything from my GP to allow me to take these things onboard a plane?
4) What’s Lanzarote like if you have been? (Holiday Village)

Thanks

JC

 

[rquinn5]

If you check with airline or travel agent they will advise you on most of that stuff. I know when I went to Australia I needed to fill in a visa form (joke tbh) and needed a letter from doctors stating what meds I was on


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[copepod]

1) Keep everything diabetes related in your hand luggage, to avoid chance of hold luggage being lost, and also because hold temperatures can go below 4oC and thus damage insulin etc.
2) Yes, do tell security staff that you have diabetes related items in your bag.
3) Best to have a letter, ideally generic so you can use it for future holidays / travel, as well as this one. Many GPs charge for such a letter, so ask a diabetes specialist nurse at your clinic (assuming you have one) instead, as they don't charge.
4) Never been to Lanzarote, and haven't been on a package holiday since I was a child, so can't help there.

 

[Elc1112]

Hi JC,

Keep all of your medication with you. The temperature drop in the hold could damage some of your insulin. It also means that you have something with you just in case your bag goes missing. Perhaps invest in some frio bags for the journey to keep your insulin cool.

I travel a lot and don't take a letter unless I have travelling to some really far flung destination. Make sure you take boxes of insulin with a prescription label on. The security people sometimes want to check this against your passport. Make sure you let security that you have needles for medical purposes in your bag. I've never had any problems. If you would feelMore comfortable with a letter from your GP then just be advised that some will charge. I can honestly say that I have never been asked to show one and have never had any problems - I fly two or three times a month for work.

Lanzarote is lovely. I've a really just booked to go there for a week in May. Plenty of seafood restaurants as well as tapas bars. Plenty of choice so you will be fine

Enjoy your holiday! Em

 

[notafanofsugar]

Lanzarote is gorgeous! You will love it!!! X


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[ALLISON462]

Dont worry too much about airline. I take a letter from my DIabetes Clinc detailing my prescription but have never been asked about the needles in my bag. Just put injection pens in clear bag like you do with makeup as it is a liquid. More important is that you keep your insulin cool. Mine stopped working in Portugal last year as I carried my pen around for lunchtime meals etc so just before I went again I bought an insulating insulin bag by a company called Frio from Amazon. Bloody amazing. Please note- it keeps it at room temperature - not cold. The reviews suggest that the pouches/bags do not work but thats rubbish. They just expected it to be cold but its not designed for that. I highly recommend them! By the way - Lanzarote is lovely, I've been a few times.

 

[noblehead]

As well as the excellent advice received so far it's worth taking a copy of your repeat prescription slip in the event that your insulin supplies are lost, stolen or spoiled.

Have a great time Joel, never been to Lanzarote but heard it's a great holiday destination.

 

[pugsnumber1]

Definitely keep it with you, put your "spare" in a clear resealable bag, make sure the box/packaging is unopened. You will need a letter from gp or nurse, TBH any event, gig or foreign hol I go on I always take an official letter, never had any issues or problems

 

[Jenn1f3r]

I have never had a problem with travel either - went to the US last year and it all went through the scanner fine - same story in amsterdam - when asked about liquids i said i had insulin and was waved through with not a problem! also i have always had a letter prepaired by my diabetes team however it hasnt been out the envelope since it was created 6 years ago!

 

[chrissybuoy]

I went to Lanzarote 2 years ago with my diabetic son Andrew. Never store insulin in the hold as temperatures are too cold. I declared Andrew's conditions & that he was carrying needles & insulin inliquids at security. There was absolutely no issue at Glasgow as they were well used to diabetics & waved us through. On the flight out the flight was diverted to London as apassenger took ill and a request if a diabetic was aboard was put out so that they could check blood sugars for a hypo and andrew was chuffed he cjould help as he had everything to hand. On the return at Lanzarote there was also no issue. We just went to the desk that dealt with passengers with special requirements to declare the insulin & we were all immediatsly checked through avoiding the massive queues RESULT!
I advise that you obtain medical confirmation of the condition& requirement for needles etc and advise the airline beforehand and again at check in and you have no issues. Just remember Lanzarots is extremely hot so investment in a cool bag that can be carried about is a good purchase and most of all don't worry enjoy the holiday.

 

[LadyM]

I also had my first Diabetic holiday to Malta last year from Gatwick Airport with insulin and needles etc., I was really worried, how was I going to cope, would every one think I was a drug addict. As other people have advised, always carry insulin, needles and blood testing kit in your hand luggage then if asked it is to hand to declare and use. I asked my GP to write me a covering letter which he did, but no one even looked at it but I felt reassured that I had it on me. I have been to Lanzarote many times and you will have no problems at all, there health care is the same as ours. Just keep your insulin in a fridge and be careful not to let it get hot, thats common sense anyway. I know you will have a lovely time. Marion

 

[Garethburke]

I would definitely recommend a cool bag. I've looked at a few and asked for their data to support which ones stay cool the longest. Both my recommendations are linked below - one is bigger that the other:

http://www.medibargains.co.uk/elite-medical-isothermal-cool-bag-for-diabetes-insulin-eb112-2-blue/

http://www.medibargains.co.uk/elite-multi-compartment-isothermal-diabetes-cool-bag-eb129/

The site does other bits and piees HypoWallets, larger bags etc. Cool bags are better than the mini- portable fridges which tend to be mass produced in far east and unreliable in my experience. Stick to a good quality cool bag in my opinion.

 

[Roberto]

Can't believe the useful tips I pick up on this forum even after 21 years of t1!

I've never once been advised not to put insulin in the hold, I normally split between hand luggage and hold!

Guess it could be common sense though....haha!

In off to the US in 3 weeks time and the one thing despite being in holiday many times before, is counting the carbs in American portion sizes? Any tips?

I'm thinking, can I run my levels slightly higher 8-10 for 2 weeks to avoid hypos etc?

 

[purpleya]

I bought a Frigio bag from Boots and it was great for keeping insulin cool. I had a letter from diabetic nurse but was never asked for it. You need to keep all medication in hand luggage, because of the fact that it might get frozen or damaged but also if your case goes missing.

BTW I found my sugar levels increase dramatically when its hot and in Lanzarote you will be hot. I usually take 2x16 measures per day but have to increase to 2x40 per day measures when abroad so took extra insulin with me. My sugar levels drop when I get cold.

Diabetic friends of mine find their sugar levels drop dramatically when they get hot... so be aware of this and test often. I don't want it to spoil your holiday.

Lanzarote is beautiful one of my favourite places. Have a nice time.

 

[rhinos01]

hi

I took my first holiday last yr to turkey, i put my insulin and tablets and glucose machine in a small cool bag, you need a letter from your GP about 20.00 need at least 48hrs for the letter, show the cool bag when they search your bags they may need to look at the letter i didnt have to show mine. i went with thomson inform them there is a certain number to call, inform everybody insurance,etc

 

[cfm38]

JC

I regularly travel for work at least once a month and always by airlines.
In my experience medication going through airports isn't much of a problem.
I carry the meds in a seperate bag and just tell security that it contains medications, in the last 2 years i have had only 1 occasion where they have actually looked through the bag.
It is helpful to carry a letter from your GP stating that you are insulin dependent and have to carry your medication with you onto planes.
I always carry about a weeks worth on me me in a small rucksack or travel bag and the rest of my medication goes into my luggage.
Tell the check in desk that your hold luggage contains important medication, most airlines will place a special tag on your bag
Remember you need to keep insulin at a certain temperature, so putting a cooling gel pack or even a picnic ice pack into your medication pack helps to keep it at the right temperature.
You should also check your accommodation to make sure there is a fridge that you can store your meds in whilst on holiday.

I have heard recently that the EU have a card that you can apply for that resembles a European travel card stating that you have to carry the insulin with you.
I haven't got one myself but searching online might give more info if that's the case.
hope your holiday goes well
enjoy the sun
cfm

 

[anderson1947]

Speak to the nice people at accu-check.com and ask for their travel advice folder it contains a pre-printed card which you tick you equipment/supplies you are carrying get your GP surgery to stamp and sign and off you go