Traveling out of the US

[momof2D]

Hi,
I am mom to 3 boys, 2 diabetics. Both are on insulin pumps. We are off to Italy for a month and need some suggestions on international travel. Any tips or advice would be great. Doctor hasn't given us much information. Would appreciate any help on plane, what to bring, in case of emergency, extra medical & trip insurance.

Thanks!!!!

[AmberO]

Sounds fun! My kids go to my parents home in NM every summer for about 6 weeks so I go through this every year.

Definately travel insurance. We haven't had to use it yet, but better safe then sorry.

Dr's note/medical certificate stating that your sons use an insulin pump, and on ours it lists all the supplies she must carry on to the cabin. Insulin/syringes, meter, glucagon. She always gets the hand scanner since we don't take the pump off to send it through xray.

It also has the contact number and email of our Dr and the hospital we use.

Original prescriptions.

All supplies on carry on. Don't want to risk lost luggage and supplies!

Since she goes for 6 weeks, I pack about 2 months of all her pump supplies, strips, 2 glucagon kits, and syringes in case there is a problem with the pump.

Along with at least 4 bottles of insulin, but we have the advantage of our old ped who can write more scripts for her while she is there.


For us on the plane, and I'm not saying anyone should do it, just what we do, I set her a temp basal of about 20% or higher. I also switch the pump time at every airport that we arrive to. We usually order her the diabetic meals, because it seems the kids meals are chock full of junk and candy. It's not like you have enough with an inactive kid on the plane and then lets feed them a whole bunch of sugar and high carbs while they have no place to run it off! :rolleyes:


I would try researching medical clinics/hospitals in case of emergency. I guess if you are in a bigger city, then it should be no problem, but if you are out in the country side or smaller village then you should find out your options.


And not saying it will happen but if your sons do need medical treatment, then it is MMOL over here. Just divide the U.S number by 17.3 to get the mmol reading. But Nikki has been going for about 4 summers now, this is her 2nd summer without us going and we've flown through each nicely without incident!

If I think of anything else or any other questions and I'll answer. :)

I think there are a couple of parents on the board from Italy, so maybe they will help more with the country questions. =)