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How do I Travel With a Diabetic Person?
- 1). Ask your diabetic travel companion if she would like you to pack some of her extra medication and blood testing supplies.
- 2). Ask your diabetic travel companion if he would like you to pack extra snacks. Pack snacks for yourself that could be used to treat low blood glucose, such as crackers and cheese, peanut butter, fruit, juice boxes and hard candies.
- 3). Stop every few hours so your diabetic travel companion can stretch her legs. Take a short walk to increase circulation. If flying or traveling by train, encourage her to walk up and down the aisle every few hours.
- 4). Plan a meal schedule and stick to it.
- 5). Watch for the signs of hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose: dizziness, sweating, shakiness, headache, hunger, paleness, sudden moodiness, sudden behavior changes, clumsiness, jerky movements, difficulty paying attention, confusion and seizure. If you notice signs of hypoglycemia, tell your travel companion and ask him to check his blood glucose levels. Give him fruit juice, hard candy, pretzels or crackers. If your diabetic travel companion passes out, seek medical attention immediately.
- 6). Watch for the signs of hyperglycemia, or high blood glucose: frequent urination and increased thirst. If you notice signs of hyperglycemia, ask your travel companion to test her blood glucose levels. She may need to exercise or take insulin. If hyperglycemia goes untreated, it may lead to ketoacidosis, or diabetic coma. Signs of ketoacidosis include shortness of breath, fruity-smelling breath, nausea, vomiting and very dry mouth. If these signs appear, seek medical attention immediately.
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