A vacation is a time to relax, unwind, and enjoy some of the finer things in life. However, if you have diabetes, a vacation can make it more difficult to manage your condition successfully. This can become a source of stress and may result in complications, preventing you from fully enjoying your vacation. However, the good news is, there are things you can do to help manage your diabetes while you’re away.
Diabetes is a serious, long-term health condition that affects how the body turns food into energy. This can cause excess sugar in the blood. Diet, lifestyle, and other day-to-day factors can all have a significant impact on blood sugar levels. To remain healthy, diabetes requires careful management, as it can cause serious health complications if not treated correctly.
Treatment for diabetes will vary depending on the type you have, but it can often be managed successfully by regularly monitoring blood sugar levels, taking insulin (or other medications), and making healthy diet and lifestyle choices.
Managing Diabetes on Vacation
Although a vacation is a time to enjoy some well-deserved R&R, traveling to a new place can get you out of your routine and may disrupt the management of your diabetes. Factors such as different time zones, unfamiliar foods, drinking alcohol, eating more and later than usual, and changes to activity levels can all impact blood sugar levels, leaving you vulnerable to health complications. Use the following tips to keep your diabetes under control:
1. Plan Ahead
The best way to keep your diabetes in control on vacation is to plan ahead as much as possible. This is so you can enjoy that time away without worry when you arrive at your destination.
Visit your practitioner before you go to check that you’re fit for your trip, whether any vaccines are required (to prevent health problems), and learn the best way to adjust your insulin doses if you are visiting a place in a different time zone. It may also be worth discussing how any planned activities could affect your diabetes and how best to manage this.
If going abroad, always pack your diabetes supplies in a carry-on bag and ensure you have enough of your medication for your trip. Also, ask your practitioner to provide prescriptions in case you lose or run out of your medicines. It’s also a good idea to check where the local pharmacy and health clinic are where you’re staying, just in case you need medical advice or assistance.
2. Eat Sensibly
Routine can go out the window on vacations and eating out can be one of the highlights of a trip. However, this can make diabetes more difficult to manage and cause fluctuations in blood sugar levels. If you know you will be eating out, try to go for a dish that tastes good, but that’s also good for you, such as lean meat and fish, and watch your portion size. If you’re not sure about a dish, ask questions to help you make better choices. If you plan to eat later than usual, have a snack before you go out to avoid getting too hungry. A snack containing fiber and protein, such as a small handful of nuts, is a good choice.
3. Don’t Forget to Exercise
Vacation is a time to relax but try to keep up your regular physical activity. An after-dinner walk, a swim in the pool, or taking part in hotel activities is a great way to keep active and manage your blood sugar levels.
4. Keep Hydrated
If you’re spending a lot of time outdoors in the sun or being physically active, remember to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Alcohol can make hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) more likely, particularly if you take insulin and other medications. If you do drink, try to switch out sugary cocktails for spirits with diet mixers and avoid alcohol on an empty stomach. Because food is digested gradually, it can help provide protection against low blood sugar levels.
5. Be Prepared for Days Out
If you’re going to be more active than usual, such as spending a day sightseeing or traveling, check your blood sugar level regularly and adjust food and insulin as needed. Take a cooler with healthy foods, snacks, and plenty of water to drink. Higher temperatures can also change how your body uses insulin, so you may need to test your blood sugar more often and adjust your insulin dose and what you eat and drink. Don’t overdo physical activity during the heat of the day and take regular rest breaks.
You should also avoid leaving insulin or diabetes medicine and equipment in direct sunlight, in a hot car, or by a pool, as the heat or water may damage medications and equipment or prevent it from working properly.
How a Diabetes Management Service Can Help
A diabetes management service can provide a comprehensive diabetes management plan to help you maintain healthy blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications. The plan is tailored to your lifestyle and specific needs and aims to focus on key areas that can help promote health and well-being. Accessing this type of service can be highly beneficial, particularly if you are finding it difficult to control your diabetes or if you have recently been diagnosed with the condition. A diabetes management service can also help you plan for your vacation, so health problems can be kept at bay.
Managing diabetes successfully takes careful planning, commitment, and discipline. At the Diabetes & Weight Loss Center, we’ll work with you to ensure you get the best possible evidence-based care for your condition. Your personalized, comprehensive diabetes management plan will focus on different areas, such as medication management, nutrition, and device monitoring.
Management for Diabetes in Oviedo, Florida
If you need help managing your diabetes successfully, visit the Diabetes & Weight Loss Center in Oviedo, Florida. Our expert providers offer comprehensive diabetes management plans that are customized to your lifestyle and specific needs to ensure you get the most effective treatment for your diabetes.
To find out more, call us at (407) 890-1876 or use our convenient online appointment request form. We offer evidence-based medical care to the residents of Central Florida, and we are happy to serve patients in both English and Spanish.
