There are several books, websites and articles about traveling for people with diabetes. Below is a list of resources to explore. To find out about managing diabetes in a particular country (such as finding out common ingredients in foods, locating medical supplies, etc.) contact diabetes associations in the country to which you plan to travel. Some contacts are listed below. To locate other associations, visit the websites of some of the organizations listed below or write to them to request contacts in a particular country. The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE) can also conduct a search for you, if you have a particular country in mind. If you use insulin, ask NCDE for our "Medications" information sheet for those who will be traveling abroad.

Helpful Resources

• Tips from travelers with diabetes
• Organizations
• Publications
• Websites

TIPS FROM TRAVELERS WITH DIABETES

• Locate a physician abroad who can liaise with your own physician if needed. See "Medications" information sheet for resources that can help with this.
  
• Find out what your insurance will cover while abroad (both your own insurance and the travel insurance you get for the exchange).
  
• Research the food customs of the country to which you are traveling, including ingredients and customary meal times.

• Negotiate with your insurance company to obtain enough supplies to last for the duration of the exchange program.
  
• If your insurance will not cover advance filling of supply needs, ask your doctor if it is possible to obtain enough samples to last for the duration of the program. It may also be possible to ask your doctor to increase your prescription temporarily, in order to gather enough supplies in advance to use while abroad.
  
• Talk with someone who has diabetes and has traveled to get advice and answers to questions you have about how best to prepare. Request a peer match from our peer network.

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ORGANIZATIONS

American Diabetes Association
1701 North Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311 USA
E-mail: AskADA@diabetes.org
Web: www.diabetes.org

American Diabetes Association (ADA) has information on their website that is useful for travelers with diabetes (See Websites below for a list of useful travel links) and also provides referral to diabetes resources in the United States.

Diabetes UK
10 Parkway, London NW1 7AA
Tel: (44-207) 424-1000
Fax: (44-207) 424-1001
E-mail: info@diabetes.org.uk
Web: www.diabetes.org.uk

Diabetes UK's mission is to improve the lives of people with diabetes in the United Kingdom. They provide extensive information and other services pertaining to diabetics including a help line with multi-language translators.

Diabetic Resource
E-mail: dresource@hotmail.com

International Diabetes Federation
Avenue Emile De Mot 19
B-1000 Brussels BELGIUM
Tel: (32-2) 538-5511
Fax: (32-2) 538-5114
E-mail: info@idf.org
Web: www.idf.org

International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is a global advocate for people with diabetes and their healthcare providers. To find a list of IDF affiliates around the world, see IDF Member Associations.

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PUBLICATIONS

The Diabetes Travel Guide by Davida F. Kruger contains travel tips for people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It includes translation of essential phrases about diabetes into several languages. Published by the American Diabetes Association, $14.95. ISBN: 1580400418.

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WEBSITES

www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/d_09_800.htm
Provides a list of diabetes associations in many countries worldwide.

www.diabetesandtravel.com/travdiabcon.html
A useful online article titled "Management of Diabetes During Intercontinental Travel."

An article from the Americans with Diabetes Association

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