Whether you are on vacation, work outside of the home, or are going to a restaurant for dinner, these simple guidelines will help you keep your blood sugar under control.

• Monitor glucose levels more often if you deviate from your diabetes care plan. For example, if you eat foods that you don't regularly include in your diet and/or you eat at a different time than usual, you can benefit from checking glucose levels more often.
• Keep all diabetes care supplies with you in a purse, carry-on bag, or backpack.
• Pack your supplies in a temperature-controlled pack when you're outside or even in a closed car.
• Pack extra medication and blood sugar monitoring supplies when planning a trip away from home. This helps you stay in control during unexpected delays.
• Pack extra batteries for your glucose monitor.
• Carry a card or wear a bracelet that identifies you as a person with diabetes.
• Ask your health care provider for new prescriptions for all diabetes supplies and medications when traveling, in case you need a refill.
• To treat low blood sugar, bring food that will give your body glucose quickly, such as 1/2 cup of fruit juice or five to six pieces of hard candy.
• Time your insulin to the situation.
• When eating away from home, wait until you see the food before injecting insulin. This helps avoid low blood sugar when meals are delayed (i.e., in a restaurant, on a long car trip, at a friend's house, or in an airplane).

Help Away From Home

When leaving the country, go to www.idf.org for a list of International Diabetes Federations. To find English-speaking health care providers in foreign countries, go to www.iamat.org. You can contact the American Embassy if you need medical help while traveling internationally.