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Type 1 Traveling Alone with T1D

G

Gravitaz

Member
Messages
15
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hello everyone,

A little about myself; I'm 26 years old and have had type 1 diabetes for 7 years now. I experimented with a pump last year for a several months but found that it's just not for me and managing my diabetes through insulin pens and my 6 year experience with them yielded similar results (HbA1C wise) without all the hassles of the pump. So now I'm back on Novorapid and Lantus.

Luckily I've never been through a diabetic-related coma, which gave me the courage to try solo travel last year for the first time which I absolutely loved; it was in Georgia (the country) which is somewhat civilized; and most importantly, they had pharmacies all around. This mattered and had given me an ease of mind because, in the unlikely event that my belongings (including insulin) get lost or stolen, I'd be able to manage and not have something terrible happen to me.

This year I want to do something more exciting and travel to a place where there isn't any pharmacy or hospital nearby (a ski trip for example); but the thought of losing my insulin is just too scary and is preventing me from going on this journey.

So, do you guys have a solution to this issue? any advice would be tremendously appreciated.


Thanks
 
Hi @Gravitaz,
As a T1D, in the past when I considered a journey I thought not only about all the problems that might happen to me but also about the problems I might cause others. And I am talking about trips like 7 day long canoe trips through wilderness etc. but always in company.
It is all very well to go solo if one is fully fit, not dependent on medication and is fully aware of the consequences of undertaking the trip. That person weighs up the risks and accepts them.
Of course there are places where you are not allowed to go solo or travel in certain seasons because of dangers, But...
As T1Ds we know that without insulin we cannot live long, (? 3, 4 days ?? depending on conditions), that a hypo can led to bad decisions and to becoming injured. That sometimes we need help from an injection, glucagon, to overcome a hypo.
A wound may become infected both because our immunity is not as good as non-diabetics and because infection upsets the diabetes which can make the infection worse. Tummy upsets may also threaten our health and diabetes.
We carry a higher risk.
And taking on dangerous journeys puts others' time, expense and even lives at risk if we need to be rescued.
That is one of the very reasons I am so critical of T1Ds attempting to climb Everest. No matter how fit, not matter how well supported, T1Ds on Everest or any dangerous, unpredictable place are at greater risk than the non-diabetic, healthy person.
These TIDs seem to me to be so egotistical that they are prepared to put the team they are with at higher risk, those peoples' health , welfare and lives just to make some point about achievement or completing up a bucket list etc.
Please do not become a show off like these people.
Enjoy travelling, take smaller, more easily solved risks, ensure you have support that you do not disrespect or abuse, enjoy company as, if carefully chosen, they may be your saviour or you theirs.
Best wishes on your deliberations and travelling safely. :):):)
 
My type 1 diabetes and I have travelled to many places where there are no pharmacies such as sailing around the Aegean or rock climbing in the Tyrol or Trekking in the Himalayas or tracking Gorillas in Uganda.
I have always taken at least twice as much diabetes stuff than I need, kept my insulin cool in Frio bags, split my diabetes paraphernalia between multiple bags, if I am going back to the same hotel, I leave some stuff in my room, and I have never ever ever let diabetes stop me doing what I want and travelling to where I want.
 
Being on Lantus means you've got a whole day after losing your insulin before your bg might start to go dangerously high. That's quite a long time to find help. In what kind of area do you want to go skiing?
 
Gravitaz said:
Hello everyone,

A little about myself; I'm 26 years old and have had type 1 diabetes for 7 years now. I experimented with a pump last year for a several months but found that it's just not for me and managing my diabetes through insulin pens and my 6 year experience with them yielded similar results (HbA1C wise) without all the hassles of the pump. So now I'm back on Novorapid and Lantus.

Luckily I've never been through a diabetic-related coma, which gave me the courage to try solo travel last year for the first time which I absolutely loved; it was in Georgia (the country) which is somewhat civilized; and most importantly, they had pharmacies all around. This mattered and had given me an ease of mind because, in the unlikely event that my belongings (including insulin) get lost or stolen, I'd be able to manage and not have something terrible happen to me.

This year I want to do something more exciting and travel to a place where there isn't any pharmacy or hospital nearby (a ski trip for example); but the thought of losing my insulin is just too scary and is preventing me from going on this journey.

So, do you guys have a solution to this issue? any advice would be tremendously appreciated.


Thanks
Click to expand...
As someone else suggested some planning as to where you store insulin - taking double medications using frio bags etc Are all great ideas. Travelling alone takes a lot of planning for anybody- we diabetics just have other factors. You can try and think of scenarios and how you would deal with them- but don't drive yourself paranoid and talk yourself out of anything. Sometimes as a diabetic I think I think too many "what ifs".
 
kitedoc said:
Hi @Gravitaz,
As a T1D, in the past when I considered a journey I thought not only about all the problems that might happen to me but also about the problems I might cause others. And I am talking about trips like 7 day long canoe trips through wilderness etc. but always in company.
It is all very well to go solo if one is fully fit, not dependent on medication and is fully aware of the consequences of undertaking the trip. That person weighs up the risks and accepts them.
Of course there are places where you are not allowed to go solo or travel in certain seasons because of dangers, But...
As T1Ds we know that without insulin we cannot live long, (? 3, 4 days ?? depending on conditions), that a hypo can led to bad decisions and to becoming injured. That sometimes we need help from an injection, glucagon, to overcome a hypo.
A wound may become infected both because our immunity is not as good as non-diabetics and because infection upsets the diabetes which can make the infection worse. Tummy upsets may also threaten our health and diabetes.
We carry a higher risk.
And taking on dangerous journeys puts others' time, expense and even lives at risk if we need to be rescued.
That is one of the very reasons I am so critical of T1Ds attempting to climb Everest. No matter how fit, not matter how well supported, T1Ds on Everest or any dangerous, unpredictable place are at greater risk than the non-diabetic, healthy person.
These TIDs seem to me to be so egotistical that they are prepared to put the team they are with at higher risk, those peoples' health , welfare and lives just to make some point about achievement or completing up a bucket list etc.
Please do not become a show off like these people.
Enjoy travelling, take smaller, more easily solved risks, ensure you have support that you do not disrespect or abuse, enjoy company as, if carefully chosen, they may be your saviour or you theirs.
Best wishes on your deliberations and travelling safely. :):):)
Click to expand...

Hey kitedoc,

I really appreciate your concern for your fellow T1Ds. I agree that we carry a higher risk than healthy individuals; but I think it is too depressing when your still young and T1D stops you going on exciting adventurous trips which is why I'm writing this post; I want to find a way to defeat the fear without risking my life. I'm not talking about climbing Everest but maybe going on safaris or maybe even sight seeing in a remote areas in New Zealand for example.
 
helensaramay said:
My type 1 diabetes and I have travelled to many places where there are no pharmacies such as sailing around the Aegean or rock climbing in the Tyrol or Trekking in the Himalayas or tracking Gorillas in Uganda.
I have always taken at least twice as much diabetes stuff than I need, kept my insulin cool in Frio bags, split my diabetes paraphernalia between multiple bags, if I am going back to the same hotel, I leave some stuff in my room, and I have never ever ever let diabetes stop me doing what I want and travelling to where I want.
Click to expand...

Helensaramay,

Thanks for the tips and inspiration.
 
Antje77 said:
Being on Lantus means you've got a whole day after losing your insulin before your bg might start to go dangerously high. That's quite a long time to find help. In what kind of area do you want to go skiing?
Click to expand...

Hey Antje77,

Good point about the Lantus, I hadn't thought about that.

I just used skiing as an example; I mean any trip to a remote place where healthcare isn't found nearby.
 
Bon83 said:
As someone else suggested some planning as to where you store insulin - taking double medications using frio bags etc Are all great ideas. Travelling alone takes a lot of planning for anybody- we diabetics just have other factors. You can try and think of scenarios and how you would deal with them- but don't drive yourself paranoid and talk yourself out of anything. Sometimes as a diabetic I think I think too many "what ifs".
Click to expand...

Bon83,

Oh yeah, I'm an over-thinker too; let alone my parents.
 
Gravitaz said:
I want to find a way to defeat the fear without risking my life. I'm not talking about climbing Everest but maybe going on safaris or maybe even sight seeing in a remote areas in New Zealand for example.
Click to expand...
You should re-think the lone cyclist thing, the emergency services are still searching for a German woman that has been missing in the Alice Springs area for more than week. The temps have been in the 40°s celcius range.

It does not say if she is / was a diabetic though.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01...ka-billen-alice-springs-search-emily/10709166

https://www.smh.com.au/national/deh...n-the-northern-territory-20190110-p50qpa.html
 
Full disclosurer here, @Gravitaz . I'm neither T1, nor have I ever taken any life critical medication, but I did go off on a long (9month) sailing trip, 3 weeks post T2 diagnosis.

A couple of weeks into that trip, 4500 away from the NHS and in a country considerd 3rd world, I jumped off a step, onto the beach, and impaled my foot on a rusty nail. As my OH said at the time; it took the edge off my day, with pulling the nail out a particular highlight. It smarted quite a bit, and I felt a bit queasy having to watch what I was doine.

Now, just what were the chances of that? OK, I proved that even if there's a tiny chance of something happening it can, but equally with those odds, would it have been prudent to discount the trip?

We all need to weigh up the pros and cons of anything we do, every day in life.

If you have particular concerns, then a chat with your GP or other HCP about mitigation strategies might help. I'm thinking things like carrying a course of anti-biotics, in case of an unfortunate infection, and taking care managing ans storing yourr supplies.

Honestly, one thing to seriously consider is actually how far you might find yourself from help. Most countries, even third world, have ambulances and emeregency services. Life is for living, not for building up a bank of regrets for things undone.

I totally accept these views are easier for me to hold, but I like to think I'd be in the @helensaramay school of thought.

Enjoy whatever adventures you embark upon.
 
Hello,

A quick update. I've just completed the solo ski trip, to which your motivation was an important factor. It was a little tough due to the really cold weather which I'm not used to but I had fun overall and I'm really glad I did it; I pushed my boundries and reminded myself that T1D isn't a limitation unless I allow it to be.

One thing that worried me a bit was the frequent lows, especially while asleep; which was due to the sudden heavy exercise that skiing is. It is a lesson though; next time I'll be sure to work on my fitness and lower my basal intake beforehand.


Thanks, my friends.
 
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