Travel Smart
Whether you’re going to a local beach or
flying to the Bahamas, your diabetes meds
and supplies need a little extra TLC.KEEP YOUR GEAR COOL
Extreme temperatures are enemy num-
ber one to blood sugar monitors, insulin
pumps, and test strips. And insulin and
other diabetes medications can degrade
when in extreme heat, says Grenye
O’Malley, M.D., an assistant professor
of medicine, endocrinology, diabetes,
and bone disease at the Icahn School of
Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Don’t store meds or supplies in your
car, and keep them out of the direct sun.
Stash meds in a cooler; wrap insulin in
a towel first so it stays cool but doesn’t
directly touch ice or gel packs. Or pack
meds in a Frio Insulin Cooling Case
(see p. 11), which stays temperature-
regulated for 45 hours, O’Malley recom-
mends. Don’t forget to take the cooler
with you when you leave the car!CARRY ON YOUR SUPPLIES
According to the Transportation
Security Administration, diabetes
supplies, equipment, and medications
can be carried on board after they’ve
been screened via X-ray or by hand.
It’s smart to keep your supplies in your
carry-on, in case your checked luggage
gets lost. Tell the TSA officer what
supplies you have, and separate them
from your other belongings for easier
screening, the American Diabetes
Association suggests.BRING YOUR RX TSA rules don’t re-
quire you to carry written prescriptions,
but O’Malley advises that having this
info can make it more likely you’ll sail
through security without a hitch.PACK MORE THAN YOU NEED
Bring an extra week’s worth of medica-
tions and blood sugar testing supplies
with you on vacation in case of travel
delays or luggage mishaps.the Sun