The challenges of Type 1 diabetes and travel

Living with Type 1 diabetes is a juggle at the best of times… But Type 1 diabetes and travel is even more challenging. We asked diabetes advocate Kirsten de Klerk to tell us about her adventures with travel – and what she’s learnt…

When was your first trip travelling with diabetes?

In 2016 (six years after I was diagnosed) I was flying to Thailand for two weeks. It would be my first time going overseas and my mind was buzzing with so many questions. Would they question my insulin and needles? How different are the time zones? What if something goes wrong? I remember learning how to say I had diabetes in Thai, just in case I got stopped or questioned. It translated to ‘C̄hạn pĕn beāh̄wān’ and I spent a whole morning perfecting the pronunciation on Google translate. I also Googled the time zone differences and set alarms to wake up at 2am to take my usual 9pm night time injection.

What about food – how did you manage that?

In Thailand there was very little access to Western cuisine. Most of the meals were rice based, or had very little description on the menu about what was in the food. No one spoke English so I decided to play it safe and eat chicken fried rice for two weeks straight! I knew I could roughly carb count for this.

Despite the challenges, I had the time of my life and survived with semi-decent blood glucose levels while finger pricking as often as I could. I was pretty relieved to come home and get back into my normal routine. I had been bitten by the travel bug, I daydreamed about all the places I wanted to go next, but at the same time I remember thinking that I wish life with diabetes could be easier.

So what happened next? Did Type 1 diabetes and travel become easier?

Yes! In 2019, I was introduced to the FreeStyle Libre. It’s a Flash Glucose Monitoring system that allows me to check my blood glucose levels at any time of the day. I insert a device into my arm for two weeks at a time, and use an app on my phone to scan the sensor to see my blood glucose levels whenever I want.

This device has been a game changer.

Since having more access to data on my blood glucose levels I feel more capable of going after the life that I have always dreamt about. This device has also enabled me to push myself physically because I can check on my sugar levels continuously.

In 2019, I climbed 3166m in the Drakensberg. In April the following year, I did my first overnight hike to Wolfberg Arch in Cederberg, carrying 12kg of necessities on my back in 36 degree heat. I was in my element sleeping under the stars with no cellphone reception. I have also traveled to Namibia, London, Greece and Mauritius since.

Not only have I felt safer knowing what my sugar levels are throughout the day and night, it has also allowed my friends and family to check in on my sugar levels by simply scanning my arm while we are hiking, driving long distances or flying.