An estimated 830 million people worldwide live with diabetes. While diabetes can be treated and controlled, it can still make things like travel a little trickier than usual, but by no means impossible! If you or someone you love has diabetes and is going to travel to Canada, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Before you go: things to do for a smooth trip
1. Talk to your clinician
Before heading off to the airport, talk to your clinician and ask about dose timing across time zones, any recent medication changes, and what to do if you get sick while travelling. Request a diabetes travel letter that lists your diagnosis, treatment plan, and the supplies you must carry (needles/lancets, pens, pump/CGM, insuling, glucagon). It makes airport screening and pharmacy conversations much easier.
2. Bring more supplies than needed
Trip delays and interruptions happen all the time. HealthLinkBC suggests that you bring at least double the amount of your usual supplies for short trips (less than 2 weeks). For longer trips, it is recommended that you bring enough supplies for your trip, plus an additional two weeks of supplies. Keep all your supplies together and make sure everything is labelled to avoid any issues at airport security.
3. Pack your carry-on
Make sure to keep your diabetes supplies and medical equipment in your carry-on luggage if you’re flying. This makes it easier to check your blood sugar levels and keep your insulin cool (avoiding fluctuating temperatures in the cargo hold).
When flying with diabetes supplies, it’s always a good idea to have them accessible for yourself and airport security. Also, make sure to declare your diabetes supplies to airport security when you’re being screened.
Flying to/within Canada with diabetes supplies
Canada's screening authority (CATSA) allows diabetes supplies (syringes, pens, jet injectorss, insuling, pumps/CGMs) in carry-on and checked bags. Make sure that you declare the, at screening and separate them for inspections.
Important note: If you wear an insuling pump or CGM, tell the offier, you can request an alternate screening (like a pat-down) instead of X-ray/body scanners when appropriate.
Pro tips at security:
Keep your travel letter and prescriptions handy
Pack gels/liquids (juice, glucose) together for quick inspection
Don't remove your pump/CGM unless your device maker explicitly requires it
Day-to-day management on trip
Jet lag, non-ideal meals, snacks, extra walking, and a variety of other things you run into when travelling can nudge glucose in either direction. It is important that you conduct more frequent checks during the first 24-48 hours at the start of your journey. You should carry fast-acting carbs within reach, and log anything that you may want to review with your clinician later (illness, dose changes, unusual activity, etc.)
Refills in Canada: Large pharmacy chains (Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs, etc.) can help you navigate refills if you have documentation and a compatible prescription. Keep your prescriptions and a medication list with generic names.
Travel Medical Insurance for Diabetes
Your travel checklist for diabetes is not complete without travel health insurance. Canada does not pay for hospital or medical services for visitors. It’s recommended that all visitors to Canada, regardless of their pre-existing conditions, get travel health insurance before their arrival to cover any potential medical costs.
Diabetes is considered a pre-existing health condition by most insurance companies. This means it could be excluded from some insurance policies, even if the condition has been stable for longer than 365 days. This ultimately depends on the definitions outlined by the provider.
However, visitors to Canada with diabetes can still find travel insurance that covers pre-existing conditions. BestQuote helps you compare the largest group of leading Canadian travel insurance providers simultaneously. This includes Super Visa Insurance, insurance for visitors to Canada, for longer International Experience Canada work visas, or when returning to Canada after a long time away.