Travelling full-time is a bit more challenging now that I have Type 1 diabetes. My schedule, routine, and diet can vary greatly, which can make controlling my blood sugar difficult.
Also, last year I became a Cyborg with my insulin pump and Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM). I am grateful for these supplies for helping to ease my Type 1 diabetes management, but they also add quite a bit to my one carry-on minimalist lifestyle.
Every 3 months, I order new insulin and medical supplies, which are shipped to my P.O. Box in California. I have a good relationship with the P.O. Box store owner. He knows to contact me when my supplies come in, and I provide him a forwarding address. He then ships my medical equipment to wherever I am. He overnights my insulin, which is packed in a cooler with freezer packs.
Every hotel that I stay at has a fridge, so I can store my unused insulin. When I fly, I store my insulin in a Frio insulin cooling case. I carry an extra carry-on bag that only contains my insulin and medical supplies. Most major airlines allow an extra carry-on for medical supplies like this, free of charge.
In the end, I’m incredibly grateful for the great medical technology, so I don’t mind the extra bag.
Hi Libby…
Does overnight shipping reach you promptly when you are overseas?
Actually, I haven’t tried overnight shipping overseas yet. I arrange to have it shipped before and after any international trips.
Also, getting insulin from a pharmacy outside the U.S. is usually easy and inexpensive, so I there’s no need to get it shipped from the U.S.
[…] full-time with Type 1 Diabetes is challenging. As I wrote in Dealing with Medical Supplies While Travelling, an irregular routine makes controlling my blood sugar harder, plus I must carry an extra bag full […]
[…] in California. He forwards my mail to me when it accumulates and when I request it. (See also, Dealing with Medical Equipment while Traveling.) I use a family member’s address for when a P.O. Box is not […]
I always carry Amoxicillin with me while traveling because of occasional sinus infections. As an experiment, I go into pharmacy’s in different countries and ask for it. I always start with, “I don’t have a prescription but…” Within a couple of minutes, the drug is plopped down in front me, leaving me no choice but to buy it.
I like doing experiments like that too. Interesting that you can get Amoxicillin so easiy; I assume it’s not too expensive since you’re outside the U.S.
I asked for insulin at a pharmacy in The Netherlands, but they wouldn’t give it to me without a prescription. They told me I would need to get insulin at a hospital instead. I never ended up going, but at least I know the process.