• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Pushing a diabetic TOO FAR???

C

cxgcxg

Newbie
Messages
2
My wife and I would be very grateful for your honest opinions/advice - thanks so much:

My mother-in-law lives abroad and very recently collapsed, was taken to hospital and diagnosed with diabetes. We do not know which type as the flow of information is far from ideal, but we do know that she has been having lots of injections in the hospital and believe she is continuing with them at home. So we suspect it is type 1. Apparently she's been told to only eat apples for a while?!?

To cut a long story short, before the recent episode, my mother and father-in-law were planning to come to the UK to stay with us for about a month in April. Although not against their will, they were reluctant to travel as they never have ventured far away (it is a twelve hour flight and c. 24 hour door to door journey) and did not want to spend a long period away from home. Now with the diabetes and whatever lifestyle change may need to go with it, they must be even more reluctant but are not saying as muh because they understand the importance to my wife who needs the support.

My online research suggests that it is possible to travel with type 1, but that a good amount of prep with insulin and contingency plans is required.

What would you do in this situation? Are we pushing somebody newly diagnosed too far? What if it turns out to be type 2, does that make the sitaution better?

One idea that we had was to delay their visit for a few months in order that she can get used to her new lifestyle?

Many many thanks :thumbup:
 
Me as a type 1 .. I did fly to Canada within weeks of diagnosis. However I was 20-ish and had age on my side.

Now with my pump 30 years on and almost 3 years on a pump ... Age is playing a factor and I'm less than enthusiastic to go abroad...

Only they can make that call whether to travel.. Me nowadays I would suggest that they may wish to postpone.

However, technically if medical persons say you are fit enough,then physically you would be able.

Was there any travel insurance involved? If not.. They could possibly see the cost of it going up... Or if they have travel insurance they need to check how they stand with it. Some people dont bother with travel insurance.... Again something to consider though...
 
Hi I travelled to Canada 7 months after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes I was 55 years old I am 57 now. The holiday was a disaster from start to finish. My glucose readings were constantly high as I could not accurately calculate the carbs in my food although I thought I was sticking to food and size of portions I knew. I have also discovered that the time difference alters the way your body responds to the insulin injections even though you have allowed for those differences. Injecting and testing was very difficult during the flight it was 7 hours. Towards the end of the holiday I developed panic attacks so badly I had to go to A & E in Toronto and have an ECG, but luckily heart was fine. Canada is a place I know very well and I love it so it wasn't the stress of being in an unfamiliar place it was all down to coping with diabetes. I would love to go back, but I am still too scared to. Some days I feel too nervous to catch a bus and travel a few miles up the road. This is probably extreme, but I can empathise with your mother in law's reluctance.
 
Hi

My thoughts on this are......... in as much as your wife wants to see her mum and dad again, does it really matter what country they rendevouz??

It might be far easier for your wife to travel abroad rather than expect her mum who has only been diagnosed just very recently, to do the travelling. It can take a far few months to get to grips with using insulin and eating food correctly and different countries may have different ways in how they control bg levels.
 
As I understand your post, they are coming because your wife needs their support?

it may be, due to this new turn of events for your in-laws, that they are in need of support themselves and wouldn't be able to help if they do come. Perhaps you could re-schedule their visit later in the year?

Is there anyone else who could support your wife?

Best wishes to you both.
 
Where do your in-laws live? or did I miss it in your post?

I'm a little concerned about the "eat only apples", as they do contain carbohydrate and may spike her blood glucose levels. Nor does it do anyone much good to live on just one food for any length of time. Apples are very acidic.

If you can, do try to find out exactly what they have told your mother-in-law. Particularly which Type has she been diagnosed with. Even Type 2s may need injections at first, if they've been undiagnosed for a long time and their blood glucose is very high.

With all types of diabetes, part of the way to manage the disease is by controlling carbohydrate intake. That means smaller portions of any grains, pasta, bread, all flour products and root vegetables; also very sweet fruits, and bananas, are best avoided, or eaten in very small quantities.

Have a good read around on here and see what information you can find; also Google "Dr Richard Bernstein", who has written a book for Type 1s but which is also very relevant for Type 2s. I think most of the information is also on his website.

My feeling would be that your mother-in-law shouldn't travel a 24 hour journey until she is completely happy with her blood glucose control and understands exactly what she is doing. She will be very tired after such a long journey and that won't be good for her blood glucose. She doesn't want to have a hypoglycaemic attack on the plane.

If she has already taken out travel insurance, there may be a problem if she doesn't tell the insurer about her diagnosis before travelling.

All in all, if your wife can travel, it might be best for her to go to them; save the in-laws' visit for another time.

Viv 8)
 
cxgcxg said:
One idea that we had was to delay their visit for a few months in order that she can get used to her new lifestyle?
Click to expand...


In light of recent events I think that is a good idea, it will give her time to adjust to living with diabetes.

Hope things work out and your Mother-in-law keeps well :thumbup:
 
Hi. It's probable that your Mother-in-law has Type 2. If you end up in hospital with excessive blood sugar, the hospital will nearly always use insulin to get the blood sugar down fast and your GP may then maintain you on tablets and the right diet. If she had gone to a GP he would have probably suggested the diet and tablet approach initially. Type 1 either from birth or the late onset variety (LADA) doesn't normally appear in old age but it's possible your mother-in-law may remain on insulin if she lacks enough natural insulin. The 'eat only apples' bit is quite bizarre and possibly needs questioning. The important thing in general is a sensible but low-carb diet as others have suggested.
 
Hi, cxgcxg, :)

Hope it all works out for you and your wife.
A little extra time is needed for a rethink.
Is there any plan to which you can visit your mother- in- law.
Roy.
 
Thanks ever so much for all of the replies - being so new to this I've found your advice and info incredibly helpful. :thumbup:

Daibell: it's reassuring to know it may be Type 2 and not Type 1 - thank you.
The apples thing may have been lost in translation but I intend to ask the question. The low carb advice is good to know too as in Asia, rice is clearly a large part of the diet.
 
Hi,
Hope youve found the forum useful!

Make sure you and your in laws know which type it is, probably T2.
Check on (shop around) travel insurance first and make sure diabetes is declared because if anything happens and you havent declared it the insurance won't cover you. Its not worth the risk. From what you say about travel times (12-24hrs) i guess its not from EU so wont be covered with reciprocal health agreements? I know someone who went to USA without insurance - the worse place to go without it !

Its fine to travel if you plan, though might be wise to check what doctors say, though with the apple advice seems a bit odd to me. Fruit and natural sugars still send the blood sugars up if not balanced with other foods, depending what her diet was before diagnosis.
Needles and insulin and tablets can be taken on board planes in hand baggage, get a medical letter to show check in and use usual procedure to put in clear plastic bag as with other liquids. Might need them on flight or in case of delays etc.
You can ask check in for more leg room seats if available - sometimes can be booked in advance. This will help sat if down for hours and to stand up easily, and also think about the special socks you can get to prevent thrombosis.

Just be sensible with planning, unless the doctors advise against travel.
But all depends on if your mother in law feels, it may be a boost to see the family. ! But as others have said it may be too early to travel just yet.
 
It will cause anxiety to your relative to travel if newly diagnosed and depend on knowledge and attitude to Type 1 diabetes.
Try telling them how many people have diabetes, I'm not sure anymore of percentage but it's a lot, ''if they can do it you can''!Explain always having - blood sugar meter, have Doctors letter re being Type 1 diabetic (I have never been asked for this but always have one with me when travelling),Frio cool pack for insulin, snacks and see how you go from there.
I am 64, Type 1 for 43 of those and have just traveled round the world enjoyably. Started in Peru and just kept going west, we had 6 months and have had a great time ..............they can do it if they really want.
 
Although I have been Type 2, taking Metformin for 2 years I recently have had to start taking Insulin. Having only been taking Insulin for 2 months I travelled to Cuba 2 weeks ago and was able to manage my diabeties very well (I'm 44!). You have to travel with your diabeties medication in you hand luggage and with a letter from your doctor and a call to the airline in advance explaining you are Insulin dependent you shouldn't face any problems carrying liquids (ie insulin, juice, glycogel) or your needles and testing kit with you. Also take extra Insulin with you and it needs to be carried in a cooler, my diabetic nurse suggested I get a FRIO which is about £20.00 for a large one and will carry about 5 Flexpens but you can get an extra large as well. It was fantastic and did the job perfectly. Once I'd got to my destination I just put the Insulin in the fridge. Hope this helps.
 
Back
Top