• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2026 Survey »

Holidays Abroad Help

Steve Hare

Steve Hare

Member
Messages
19
Location
London
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Other
I'm going on my first major holiday abroad to Greece on Monday for 7 nights.
It's my first holiday abroad since being diagnosed with T2 17 years ago.

I've always had concerns with how I manage all my medication etc as I'm on about 8 different tablets a day 2 different insulin pens a day and Trulicity.
Just the thought of having to take all these meds in their original boxes with my prescription stickers on them have just made me not bother.

Is there any advice on what I need to do/pack before I leave on Monday.

I have packed my empty needle Bay box where I usually store my meds weekly and will discard the packing once there. I've packed 2 weeks worth of all my meds in original packaging (insulin won't be in packaging), I have cool pack for my insulin pens.

I'm taking a copy of my repeat prescription and have the NHS app at the ready.

I'm taking spare FreeStyle Libre 2 sensors as I need to change one when I get to Greece and was gonna have a spare incase one comes off in the sea?
I've heard a rumour that the libre sensors plus the one on my arm, can go through airport xray machines! Is this true? How have others managed this?

I have diabetes recommended travel insurance and my travel health care card.

Am I allowed to carry/take food such as cereal bars as emergency carb abroad?

Is there any other recommendations
 
Steve Hare said:
I'm going on my first major holiday abroad to Greece on Monday for 7 nights.
It's my first holiday abroad since being diagnosed with T2 17 years ago.

I've always had concerns with how I manage all my medication etc as I'm on about 8 different tablets a day 2 different insulin pens a day and Trulicity.
Just the thought of having to take all these meds in their original boxes with my prescription stickers on them have just made me not bother.

Is there any advice on what I need to do/pack before I leave on Monday.

I have packed my empty needle Bay box where I usually store my meds weekly and will discard the packing once there. I've packed 2 weeks worth of all my meds in original packaging (insulin won't be in packaging), I have cool pack for my insulin pens.

I'm taking a copy of my repeat prescription and have the NHS app at the ready.

I'm taking spare FreeStyle Libre 2 sensors as I need to change one when I get to Greece and was gonna have a spare incase one comes off in the sea?
I've heard a rumour that the libre sensors plus the one on my arm, can go through airport xray machines! Is this true? How have others managed this?

I have diabetes recommended travel insurance and my travel health care card.

Am I allowed to carry/take food such as cereal bars as emergency carb abroad?

Is there any other recommendations
Click to expand...
Looks to me as though you pretty much have everything covered mate.
But with regard to some of your specific points.

An empty water/cola bottle makes a great sharps bin.

There is probably some medical advice on the website of your chosen airline. it might tell you to carry a letter from your doctor if you're carrying sharps. I have such a letter but have never been asked for it at security -so make of that what you will. Doctors usually charge for this, hospitals provide it for free if you have a contact at your nearest one.

Before I switched to Dexcom, I wore Libre sensors through security with no problems and had spares pass through the bag scanner. If you're in any way worried about it, tell the security people and ask for a pat down instead. They probably will not mind as they are used to all the medical technology that people use these days.

Myself - I am more concerned with access to carbs on the plane than I am at the destination where one never seems to be far away from a barrel load of carbs in touristy areas. The body absorbs carbs in liquid form faster than solids so a cold cola also gets the job done.

Relax and send us a postcard.
 
Last edited:
I've posted separately about airport scanners and Libre. By all means if it makes you feel more secure you can ask for a pat-down but I go through airport scanners frequently with Libre and no issues, I don't even think about it anymore. Not sure what the 'original box' thing is all about, I don't bother apart from spare sensors which you have got right. If you haven't seen the thread on FRIO's - they are great for carrying your insulin, even when you are out and about and it's hot like where you are going. Suggest having a colourful little bag in your handluggage (so you don't miss it and leave it going through security or on the plane - yes, done that!) with the really essential stuff.. needles, pills, chocolate, biscuits.. and keep your backup in another place.. so worst case if you do lose some essentials you will still have what you need on your trip.
 
I regularly fly with pills, insulin and (now) pump supplies. Dexcom not libre, but I think same principles apply.
Here's my method
1) All medication and diabetic supplies in hand luggage.
2) Two spare dexcom because I find that they fail more often on holiday. (Recently I packed 3 when I theoretically only needed one and I used them all - one early failure and another that failed on start up).
3) Script/receipt from pharmacy with medications
4) Blood testing strips and glucometer for when cgm fails or is unreliable. (My glucometer also does ketones so I have ten strips for that.) I also carry a spare glucometer though that might be overkill for a week (yes my glucometer has failed on holiday).
5) I second @urbanracer about not needing a massive sharps bin - I use an empty plastic container (used to contain glucotab refills so I'm going to throw it out anyway) and take it home and decant into my real sharps bin).


Have a great holiday.
 
Back
Top