Travelling with Diabetes: What We’ve Learned on the Road
- Travel Support Circle
- Apr 25
- 6 min read
Lucinda Faucheux @luce_travelmama
Inspired by Race Across the World
When the new season of Race Across the World aired this week, I was glued to the screen… for the travel, of course, but also because one of the contestants, Fin, was managing diabetes while racing across unpredictable terrain, long travel routes, and shifting time zones. It was refreshing to see the reality of travelling with diabetes shared so openly, and it made me reflect on my husband and I’s journey.
My husband has been diabetic since the age of 10, and as someone who travels often (sometimes with me on business, sometimes for fun), we’ve learned that with a little planning and the right mindset, diabetes doesn’t need to be a barrier to exploring the world. Whether you or a loved one lives with diabetes, I hope our experience can offer both practical tips and reassurance that yes, you can travel wherever in the world you want.
Planning Ahead is Your Superpower
Travelling with diabetes doesn’t mean you need to overthink every detail, but a little forward planning can save a lot of stress.
We always research the destination beforehand: how easy it is to access healthcare, whether we can keep medication refrigerated if needed, average temperatures (hot and cold weather can impact not only insulin, but also sugar levels) and what the local food scene is like. We also check time zones in advance to make adjustments for insulin timing and meal plans.
When managing your long acting insulin (ie. Lantus) change it in 2 hour intervals - ie. if there is a 6 hour time difference, change it by 2 hours each day.
Travel insurance is a must: make sure it covers pre-existing conditions and includes medical support abroad. And if language might be a barrier, download a translation app and note key phrases like “sugar-free?” in the local language.
The Diabetic Travel Kit: Don’t Leave Home Without It
We’ve developed a bit of a ritual when it comes to packing. These items are always non-negotiable:
Insulin & needles (double the amount needed)
Spare empty insulin pens
Senors (again, doubled in case of failures)
Frio cooling wallet (these have been lifesavers in hot countries, and are very clever as can be activated with just water)
Glucose tablets and MANY snacks (we also have a 6 year old, so basically life is snacks in our house!)
A backup blood test meter (because you just never know)
Travel insurance documents
It sounds like a lot of prep, however peace of mind and avoiding panic situations really is important when travelling with a medical condition.
Pro tip: we always divide supplies between two bags, ie two hand luggage, just in case one gets lost. Unless we are going on an extremely long trip, we keep everything in hand luggage.
Navigating Airports and Flights with Ease
Security checkpoints can be daunting with insulin pens, pumps, or other equipment, but we've found that being calm and upfront helps. Most airports are extremely used to seeing medical equipment, but we let staff know before anything goes through the scanner.
Long-haul flights come with their own set of challenges… timing meals, impact from lack of sleep, staying active, avoiding blood sugar dips. We now have a solid routine: set alarms for insulin if needed, bring your own snacks onboard so you know the carb content, and walk the aisle regularly.
Also: stay hydrated. Dehydration can sneak up on you mid-flight and mess with blood sugar levels.
Food Adventures - Without the Blood Sugar Drama
Trying local food is one of the best parts of travelling, and we never want diabetes to take that away. Instead of saying “no” to everything, we focus on balance.
We look up restaurants and menus in advance (the foodie in me does this anyway!), and we always have a few sugar-stabilising snacks on hand. In places where sugar is hidden in sauces or drinks, we just ask. Most restaurants are happy to help once you explain it’s a health need, not a preference. Consider what you are ordering, and use the handy carbs and cals app to help you estimate.
The biggest hurdle we tend to come across is sugar-fuelled drinks. The UK is actually pretty good for finding sugar-free options, but once you head abroad - even just into Europe - it can become a challenge. If in doubt, we stick to bottled water to be safe (yes, boring I know!).
Another lesson we learned the hard way: always eat in clean, reputable places, especially when managing a condition like diabetes. Years ago, in our early twenties and trying to travel on a tight budget, we made the mistake of grabbing a "meat" kebab from a questionable street shop in Turkey. My husband ended up seriously unwell and was hospitalised for three days when we returned to the UK.
When you have diabetes, food poisoning isn't just unpleasant, it can seriously disrupt your blood sugar levels and lead to dangerous complications. Now, we make it a priority to eat in places that look clean, busy, and well-reviewed. It’s not about being snobby, it’s about staying safe and keeping our travel plans on track.
Tech That Gives You Peace of Mind
One of the biggest game-changers in recent years for us has been the rise of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensors like Dexcom and Freestyle Libre. These wearable sensors track blood glucose levels in real time, and the data is accessible via an app, so not only can the person with diabetes see their levels, but their partner or family member can too (with permission).
This technology has brought us so much peace of mind when we’re away from home. The scariest thing, especially in a new environment or unfamiliar time zone, is when your partner is unknowingly going into a hypo and doesn’t realise it until it’s too late to act quickly. With the sensors, you can get alerted as well, often even before the person feels anything physically. This is key for diabetics who don’t often recognise their symptoms.
We’ve had moments in the past where I have had to wake my husband up and help him get his sugars back on track, catching it just in time by forcing orange juice down his throat. Weirdly, when my husband is in a hypo he will always listen to the sensor beep and act - whereas he would often be in denial if I raised the question “are you low?”. These sensors and their apps are, quite literally, life-saving. They’ve allowed us to travel more confidently, sleep more soundly, and explore more freely, knowing that we have that extra layer of support wherever we are.
What Happens When Things Go Wrong?
Travel isn’t always smooth and when diabetes is in the mix, it’s even more important to be adaptable.
We’ve left insulin in hotel fridges in Thailand. We’ve thrown away insulin in a panic that it’s been compromised in the heat. We’ve forgotten to adjust for time zones and ended up with a bit of a wobble. We’ve been stranded and worried about running out of medication. We’ve had hypos and hypers for what seems like no reasonable explanation.
Our advice? Always know the location of the nearest pharmacy or hospital. Keep your partner or travel buddy informed about how to respond to a hypo. Always have a charged phone (for your sensor alarms). Consider the impact of your activities on your sugar levels. And don’t be afraid to slow down if your body is telling you to.
From the Screen to Real Life: Why Representation Matters
Seeing a diabetic traveller featured on Race Across the World hit home for us. It was powerful to see someone not just managing diabetes, but thriving while doing something so physically and mentally demanding. It’s proof that the world isn’t off-limits.
Representation matters. It inspires confidence. It reminds you that you’re not the only one navigating airports with a medical kit or scanning menus like Sherlock Holmes. And it shows that diabetes doesn’t define what you can do - it just shapes how you do it.
Final Thoughts: Go Anyway
If you're planning a trip and feeling nervous about managing diabetes on the go, here’s my message to you: go anyway.
Yes, pack the kit. Yes, do the prep. But don’t let fear take the joy out of the journey. Some of our best memories have come from the very trips we worried the most about.
Travel might take a little more thought, and there may be struggles along the way, but it’s absolutely worth it. The sunsets, the street food, the cultures, the laughter. Diabetes doesn’t cancel out any of it.
And as we’ve learned over the years: it’s not about travelling perfectly. It’s about travelling prepared and in partnership. With the right mindset, there’s nothing you can’t do.
Written by Lucinda Faucheux (with the help of husband, Adam!)