Top 10 Tips For Travelling With a Type One Diabetic Child

Calling all Parents of Type 1 diabetics! This one is for you.

Having a
child with type 1 diabetics is quite common;

If you are
curious as to where your country ranks, check out this interesting

Taking your
first family holiday with a child with type 1 diabetes can be daunting, but it
is not impossible! The key to an amazing family getaway is like all things in
life… preparation; here are my top 10 tips to ensuring your holiday goes
smoothly.

Depending on the length of your trip,
you are going to need extra supplies- as a general rule of thumb; I always
recommend and
This means you are prepared for any situation that comes
your way- I always say it’s better to be safe than sorry. (If your child is on
an insulin pump, many pump manufactures will offer a spare one to bring on
holiday, just give them a call to find out)

Prepare a “hypo pack”, this could be
in a little lunch box that is filled with their favourite snack and sweets to
take during a hypo. This will be perfect
for days out and long car journeys.

No matter how hard you try, sometimes
your child can get lost in a crowd, and in the moments of separation, you need
to be prepared, you will already be terrified they aren’t with you, so don’t
add to the stress with something diabetes related going wrong. There are some
beautiful medical ID bracelets or necklaces on the internet which look “cool”
to wear,

Whether you are going to a hot or cold
destination, there is always the possibility that your child’s insulin can
freeze or overheat and die,
Most
hotel rooms will have a fridge for you to store insulin,

Carry a prescription of the list of
medication your child uses or a doctors letter briefly stating your child’s
condition and how it affects them- this is useful in case you need to get extra
in an emergency, and it is also useful if you need some sort of verification
for the use of your medication in theme parks, or certain tourist destinations
(the Eiffel Tower being a notable one).

These are always a fun day out, and
did you know that as a diabetic you an access special assistance pass for your child and family members? This
allows you to bypass the long lines for the attractions, which is really useful
in the searing heat when hypos can become more common!

. If you are heading further afield and
on a plane (lucky you!)…then things can seem a little stressful, but don’t
worry!
to
help make that section of the journey less stressful!

Depending on the length of your
flight, your carrier may provide a meal or snacks, check before hand, and if
not, carry some snacks on board with you. Airline meals can be carb counted as
usual and again,
Make sure your child wears
travel socks on long-haul flights, but if they have some form of neuropathy,
then check with the doctor first.

9. Food! Being away on holiday means trying new foods, or indulging on more food, and it’s no different for children- get yourself a carb counting book such as Carbs &Cals (who also have an app) to help you judge the carbs in any food that’s aren’t part of you usual routine, and have lots of hypo stuff on hand in case you over estimate (which we all do).

Remember
that your child insulin requirements will change while your away,
, or less if
they’re playing in the sun, consult with your doctor on the best plan of action
on increasing or decreasing insulin- its personal to every child with diabetes
as we are uniquely different!

Rounding off

If you are on the lookout for a pouch for your child insulin pump that will fit their personality then check out Beta Pump Pouch.

Just as a reminder; if you think your
child has type 1 diabetes or think someone you know might, remember the 4 T’s;
Toilet, Thirsty, Tired & Thinner-
Diabetes UK has excellent information
about these symptoms
and what to look out for. A quicker diagnosis means less chance of life threatening
DKA!

So head off
on your trip with confidence you have the diabetes covered & most
importantly make memories with your loved ones that will last a life time! If
you have other tips and tales then please do comment them below and I can
update them in the blog!

If you have experience of travelling with a type 1 diabetic child then please comment below with any further tips and suggestions that you have for other parents just like yourself. We would love to hear from you. For a full guide over 90 pages of information and resources for all aspects of a tip, from planning and more, check out the official e-book today.

Happy
Travelling,

Cazzy x