For Type one diabetics and diabetics diagnosed with Type two and requiring insulin injections, traveling brings on a whole new set of challenges. One particular area of concern for some is keeping up with insulin. How do you properly plan for a trip to ensure that you have what you need?

Never the less, the first and most important point to make is to ensure you pack plenty of insulin for the trip. You always want to have extra just in case you:

End up staying longer than expected, encounter a delay, or if you were to accidentally damage some of your supply.

Insulin vials do not take up too much room and it’s definitely worth the peace of mind to have extra on hand.

Checking-in your insulin and diabetes equipment: If you’re traveling by plane it’s best to have your insulin supply and it is related equipment contained in their original containers with the original labels. This is to help avoid any unnecessary delays when going through security checks. If you don’t have these in the proper packaging make sure to get some from your pharmacy. Don’t risk carrying it in plain packaging or the security staff could confiscate it.

But security checks aren’t the only issue to deal with. Check ahead of time with your transportation company about the luggage regulations. As well as the legal guidelines, you’ll need to know how your bags will be stored and the temperatures they’ll be exposed to. The luggage storage hold of the bus or train, or even the baggage hold of the plane, may experience extreme temperature differences during travel…

Most anti-diabetic medications, glucose meters, and testing strips

Need to be stored at room temperature. Many injectables must be kept cool.