People with diabetes can enjoy worry-free holidays by following some simple precautions and making key adjustments to keep blood sugar levels stable while travelling.
The German Diabetes Association explained that symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, or general discomfort during travel may not always be caused by motion sickness or stomach upset—they may also signal high or low blood sugar levels.
Causes and Warning Signs
If people with diabetes experience nausea, they should check their glucose levels immediately. This helps distinguish whether the cause is hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), or another unrelated issue.
Signs of low blood sugar may include trembling, sweating, intense hunger, heart palpitations, irritability, nausea, and fatigue. Risk increases during holidays when physical activity levels are higher than usual.
High blood sugar, on the other hand, is often accompanied by nausea along with symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, tiredness, blurred vision, excessive thirst, and frequent urination.
Travelers may also experience motion sickness—common on cars, buses, planes, or ships—when the brain receives conflicting signals from the eyes and inner ear. Typical symptoms include dizziness, pallor, cold sweats, and nausea, which usually subside once the journey ends.
Gastrointestinal infections are another risk while traveling. Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, and abdominal cramps can increase the likelihood of hypoglycemia since diabetes medications continue to lower blood sugar even when the body absorbs little or no food.
Practical Tips
Experts recommend that people with diabetes check their blood sugar more frequently during holidays than in daily life—especially in hot or cold climates, at unusual altitudes, or when engaging in physical activity.
As in everyday routines, travelers should always carry glucose tablets, sugary drinks, and glucagon supplements for emergencies. When flying, these supplies—and insulin—should be kept in carry-on luggage, as freezing temperatures in the aircraft’s cargo hold can reduce the medication’s effectiveness.
It is also advisable to bring two to three times the usual amount of medication needed for the duration of the trip.
For those who experience nausea, short-acting insulin should ideally be injected shortly after eating. Injecting before meals carries a higher risk of hypoglycemia if vomiting occurs afterwards.
With the right preparation, people with diabetes can significantly reduce travel-related risks and focus on enjoying their journeys safely.
