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Diabetic traveler advice and recommendations

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I am type 2, on a pump and a weekly injectable. I have tried several methods with limited success to pack meds that must stay cool: insulin in a vial, insulin pens for backup in case the pump fails, now I have the awkward glp-1 pens (5 of them for this fall’s trip) that are very difficult to keep cool. The majority of travel coolers require periodic access to a freezer. That is very difficult in Europe as we all know. And it’s rare to have a room with a frig. This spring I got several hotels to freeze the cube overnight for me but it’s not a reliable method. For the pens, I have two Frio pouches which use crystals that turn to a gel providing evaporative cooling but the glp-1 pens don’t fit in the Frios. The devices that cool with a USB port can’t be put in carryons due to battery fire hazard. There must be a solution out there for this expensive medication but so far I haven’t found it. We go to Europe for 4-5 weeks at a time and do two RS tours back-to-back.

I pack all my sensor, and pump supplies in a medical backpack which is my 3rd carryon, but I don’t want it to be super heavy. My husband and I only do carryon plus I need eyes on my medical equipment at all times. I’d love to hear from other diabetics who have traveled under these circumstances. Thanks.

Posted by
132 posts

The devices that cool with a USB port can’t be put in carryons due to battery fire hazard.

I thought that they could not be put in checked bags due to the fire hazard. But if you keep them with you, you can use them. There was an announcement from the airlines on my last fight to keep it on your person. I would verify this with your specific airlines. Also talk with the airlines about cooling options while on the flight. They may be able to help.

Posted by
19302 posts

The majority of travel coolers require periodic access to a freezer. That is very difficult in Europe as we all know. And it’s rare to have a room with a frig.

Actually, this is not true. It depends on the hotels you seek.

If you want charm over everything else, then the old "Rick Steves" type of hotels will not work for you. But if you want a refrigerator in your room, you can usually find one. These hotels are more likely to be modern and part of a chain. Having a fridge in my room is something I look for. And I mostly find it. I would say nine out of ten times.

One good way to do this is to use Booking.com and set the search for hotels with refrigerators. I then book directly with the hotel.

The other thing is to ask your doctor if a pill is available that can do the job. My doctor wanted to give me a prescription for a weekly shot. Because I travel it was not convenient. Instead, I got the medication in pill form but have to take it daily rather than a weekly shot.

Posted by
9515 posts

Also, speak to your pharmacist about your concerns and what the cooling requirements actually are for travel. Many insulins and glps are fine at room temperature for up to a month. Keeping cool is better, but you may have much more flexibility than you think

Posted by
1623 posts

Paul, good idea, but a tour bus or car of course is not "room temperature " when not occupied so does that mean trying to schelp it with you thru the art museum?

Posted by
1203 posts

Have you talked to your pharmacist? They are the people who can give you the relevant information for storing your medications. Also talk to your doctor about any adjustments that could be made to your meds.

I am type II and now take a daily insulin shot; previously I also took a weekly Ozempic shot. When travelling I’d figure out a few weeks in advance how many Ozempic shots I would need and, if necessary make adjustments so that I took a weekly shot the day I left. I took just enough pens to cover the trip, usually lasting two or three weeks - one one pen contains four doses thus is good for four weeks, and with Ozempic at least, there is a grace period if you miss a shot, I think up to four days. Insulin pens. I take as many as I need, plus an extra “just in case”.

For overnight flights, I had a handy tote bag with a separate zipped waterproof section on the bottom. The pens were stored here in a clear plastic bag, together with a cool pack provided by my pharmacist, I never had any problems going through security - just said I had diabetic medications. Occasionally I was asked to show them.

Storage overseas, in Europe or elsewhere, was never a problem as most hotels had mini fridges in the room. If not, hotels inevitably would put them in a fridge for me. Insulin, mine at least, should not be frozen, if not in use it should be kept at 2-8 degrees Celsius (a normal fridge temp) and when in use at 15-30 degrees Celsius (room temp). On the buses there was always a fridge that kept bottled water very cold and the driver was happy to store the meds. The on bus fridge was well insulated and seemed to retain the low temps overnight. As always, talking to the guides at the start of the trip was helpful and they would help with talking to the driver/hotel. There always seemed to be at least one other diabetic on the trip. Maybe give the RS office a heads up about the need to store meds so the guides are aware in advance?

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