Keep your supplies.
Are you planning a summer vacation with the family? If you have diabetes, even preparing for daily activities can require advanced planning.
A lot depends on where you’re going and for how long. A week of backpacking in the mountains takes different planning from a week at the beach. If upcoming summer travel plans may disrupt your daily routine, follow these tips for traveling when you have diabetes.
When traveling, make sure your diabetes supplies are easily accessible. “You may want to consider increasing your amount of supplies in case of emergencies,” advises Yassin Mustafa, MD, with Kettering Physician Network Endocrinology and Diabetes, located on the campus of Southview Medical Center in Centerville. “If you’re flying, be sure to put all of your supplies in your carry-on bags and check your airline’s screening policies so you know what to expect at the security checkpoint.”
Traveling can really throw you off schedule, especially when flights are delayed or you’re traveling out of your time zone. Anticipate possible travel hiccups so you can stick to your routine as much as possible. “Checking your blood glucose while traveling is as important as when you are at home,” Dr. Mustafa says. “Check your blood glucose as soon as possible after landing. Jet lag can make it hard to tell if you have very low or very high blood glucose.”
Stick to your routine. Get documentation.
Dr. Mustafa advises that you carry a note from your doctor stating that you have diabetes and need to have your medication with you at all times. If you’re going to a country where most people speak a language other than your own, translate the note into that language. If you have diabetes and use insulin, be sure to carry your medical ID with you at all times.
Always be prepared to treat low glucose.
“With changes in schedule and activities,” says Dr. Mustafa, “you need to be prepared for low glucose whenever it strikes, so pack plenty of glucose tablets. These are usually the best for travel because they won’t melt, explode in heat or leak and become sticky.”
Consider time zone changes.
If you’re wearing an insulin pump and will be traveling to a location in another time zone, be sure to adjust your insulin pump’s clock to reflect the change. “If you have questions about how to handle the change, talk with your diabetes care team beforehand,” suggests Dr. Mustafa.
Tell others that you have diabetes.
“It’s important to let the people you’re traveling with know you have diabetes,” Dr. Mustafa advises. “Let them know what you have to do to stay healthy and active on your journey, and what they should do in case there is an emergency.”
Getting in to see a doctor takes time. Getting the most out of your doctor’s time takes something more: an inquisitive approach.
Armed with the right questions before you sit on the exam table, you, too, can become an empowered patient ready to make informed decisions about your health.
“The era of the doctor who just tells you what to do — like Marcus Welby — those days are over. And they should be over,” said Dr. David Hilden, an internal medicine physician at Hennepin County Medical Center. “It’s good for both sides to be informed.”
On average, doctors spend a mere 13 to 16 minutes per patient, according to a recent MedScape survey of more than 19,000 physicians.
To get the most out of your visit, take an active role in setting the agenda for which health issues to cover during your appointment. Focus on two or three things that you want your doctor to address, Hilden advises, and compare those with what your doctor thinks are the top issues to cover in your time together.
It also helps to prepare a list of questions ahead of time. Here are seven to get you started:
1. Which health websites do you trust?
With so many people googling their symptoms in search of a diagnosis, it’s wise to vet the information you’ve gleaned online with your doctor. “It’s OK to say to your doc, ‘I read this on WebMD. What do you think of that?’” Hilden said.
The most credible websites are the ones that are less commercial, he advised. Government sites such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) offer reliable information. In general, the best health websites are associated with a respected university or
The lazy days of summer can quickly turn into an unforgettable tragedy when small steps are ignored in pursuit of convenience and fun.
Drownings, severe sunburns, campfire accidents and heat stroke incidents are all serious problems that can easily be avoided if the right precautions are taken, said Matthew Stone, DO, a family physician with Middletown Family Practice.
“Some of the most common hazards I see in family practice during the summertime deal with dehydration, sun safety and pool safety,” said Dr. Stone, who also added that reckless play around campfires and a misunderstanding of the dangers of sparklers are also issues he sees in his patient population.
Dehydration is perhaps one of the most deceptive health issues during summer because it sneaks up on a person before they know they are experiencing it, he said.
“Everyone assumes they are well hydrated because water is so accessible,” said Dr. Stone, who practices with Premier Physician Network. “Often, the symptoms are there before someone realizes it is a problem. People who are experiencing a headache and not urinating much may already be on their way to heat exhaustion.”
Pool safety is another issue that usually isn’t top of mind health care system.
2. What is this medication I’m taking, and why am I taking it?
It’s a common problem — people come in taking 10 to 15 medications and they’ve lost track of what each one is for and when they were first prescribed, Hilden said. A good follow-up question is: “Are there any medications I can stop?”
If your doctor prescribes a new medication, you should ask about typical side effects and about how it will interact with your existing medications. “I wouldn’t put any pill in your mouth until you know what you’re taking it for, and what the common side effects are,” Hilden said.
3. How can I get help to stop smoking?
Quitting smoking is really hard, but a brief counseling session with a doctor increases your chances of success, Hilden said.
Your doctor can steer you to helpful tools to break this unhealthy habit — and greatly impact your overall wellness. “There’s almost nothing a person can do to improve health that is more important than quitting smoking,” Hilden said.
4. Are my vaccinations and screenings up to date?
The things that keep you healthy are your vaccinations and screenings. If you’re a woman, ask if you are getting appropriate breast cancer screening. Regardless of gender, ask if you should be getting a colonoscopy. Other valuable health screenings include regularly checking blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
5. What is a healthy weight for me, and how can I get to that?
With two-thirds of the country tipping the scales as overweight or obese, weight is a hefty health concern for most of us. But many people don’t know what a good weight is for them, while others have unrealistic goals about their weight. Getting the facts from your doctor, as well as some evidence-based tips on how to maintain a healthy weight, is an important first step in reaching your weight goals.
6. What do you do to stay in shape?
Some doctors are reserved in sharing information about themselves with patients, but asking what works for them in terms of eating right and exercising can yield tangible advice on how to fit fitness and nutrition into a busy schedule.
7. If you’re prescribed an opioid painkiller, ask: Is it really necessary, and what else can I do to relieve pain?
Despite growing awareness about the addictive powers of prescription opioid painkillers, the epidemic continues. As a result, Hilden suggests that for the vast majority of people seeking pain relief, it is best to avoid taking opioid medications altogether.
Instead, ask about other treatment options for pain relief, such as acupuncture, yoga or non-opiate pain medications. “Patients want their pain to go away. That’s reasonable,” Hilden said. But taking opioids, he said, is “too risky in the long run.”