Department of General Medicine
Travelling with Diabetes Before you leave: • Make an appointment with your doctor 4-6 weeks beforehand to discuss your travel plans. • Get your vaccinations done as recommended by your doctor. • Get 2 documents from your doctor: a copy of your most current prescription and a letter stating your need to travel with diabetes medications and supplies. • If possible, get hold of some form of identification that can be carried on yourself such as a diabetes identity card/Medik Awas card or a bracelet to state that you have diabetes. • Crossing Time Zones: If you are using insulin, you may want to plan the timings of your injections during your travel with your doctor.
What should I bring with me?
• Keep a “carry-on” bag with you at all times. If you are travelling by plane, a “carry-on” bag is encouraged as check-in luggage may be delayed or go missing and supplies may be damaged by the extremes of temperature in the airplane cargo area. • This “carry-on” bag should have: 1. At least an extra week or 2 of the amount of medications (oral drugs and insulin) and blood testing supplies that you will need for your duration of travel. 2. Insulin should be kept cool at all times by packing it in an insulated bag with refrigerated gel packs or special insulin wallet. 3. Food for treatment of low blood sugar – suggest snacks to avoid lows such as crackers, fruits and some form of easily absorbed sugars such as candies or glucose tablets. 4. A simple first-aid kit.
General travelling tips:
• Drink fluids to keep yourself well hydrated. • Checking your blood glucose while travelling is as important as when you are at home. Check your blood glucose level as soon as possible after landing. Jet lag can make it hard to tell if you have very low or very high glucose. • If you are travelling on an airplane and you need an insulin injection during your flight, follow your normal procedure but put only half as much air into your insulin bottle as you normally would due to difference in pressure.
Foot care whilst travelling Do’s
• Travel with comfortable, well-fitting shoes, preferably those that can be adjusted in case your feet swell. • If possible, move around every hour or two to reduce swelling and your risk of blood clots in the legs from sitting for too long. • Wear socks if you are going to a cold country. • Check your feet every day. You should look out for blisters, cuts, redness and swelling.
Don’ts •
Do not wear open-toe shoes, including sandals, flip-flops or others.
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Avoid soaking your feet in hot springs.
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Avoid pedicures or manicures.
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Do not walk barefooted.
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See a doctor at the first sign of infection or inflammation.
At your destination:
• Store your insulin in a cool place as soon as possible. • It is useful to know the nearest medical centres or pharmacies in case of emergency. • Check your blood sugar more often as your activities and eating patterns may change during the trip. • It is good to inform your travelling companion about your condition. Make sure that he/ she knows how to recognize and treat hypoglycaemia (low sugar) should it happen to you. • If you are feeling ill during the trip, see a doctor if necessary and follow sick day rules.
© Khoo Teck Puat Hospital Pte Ltd 2025. All rights reserved. All information correct as of Dec 2025. No part of this document may be reproduced, copied, reverse compiled, adapted, distributed, commercially exploited, displayed or stored in a database, retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior permission of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital Pte Ltd . All information and material found in this document are for purposes of information only and are not meant to substitute any advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. DM.IE.03.1225