So.....I'm going out of the country, to India, with a program from my school in about a month. I'm T1D and i got NO clue what to do!!!! I'm starting to freak out. Its about 2 days worth of traveling. Most of its by plane but once we land in India, we have to drive another 5 hrs. to get to the city I'm staying in. I will also be gone for about a month. I have not the first clue on where to start and how to start. What should I pack? How much? What if i dont pack enought? What if my bags get lost or worse taken!?!?! We will be about 5 hrs away from te closest town and 3 hrs from a hospital. I'm really starting to doubt if i should even go. All the  "what ifs" are driving me crazy.  If you have any tips/advice PLEASE let me know!!! I would really appreciate it!!

thanks!!

India eh? Sounds fun! I know Suzane has a cool vid about packing so you can check that out but I'll tell you what I'd bring: ok a month + around 5 days rounded up to 40 days. Be safe and say that you take 45-50 units per day for a grand total of 2,000 units of insulin. There are around 1,000 units per vial so err on the side of caution and take 3 or 4 bottles I'd do 3 and the partial vial you'd happen to have already opened. A Fannie-pack is a good idea to have and make sure you get a small plastic bag with ice to keep the insulin cool but maybe wrap a small cloth around it to keep it from freezing. Bring about 5 bottles of test strips... Tester (naturally), 15-17 reservoires + tubing, glucagon (try your best to keep it room temp if possible), and 2 quick 'setters. And of course remember your swimsuit, camera, and jerky

Super exciting!!!

Clark great respose BTW.  The one thing I was going to add was that usually when I am flying I make sure to keep my diabetic needs close to me.  I usually travel with my supplies in my carry on luggage so that I don't worry about my luggage getting lost.  Lots of supplies though for a whole month but I would keep as much stuff in my carry on as possibe.

Another good thing to do is ask you doctor what people have done in the past on long trips.  Having an emergency plan for lost supplies might ease your anxiety as well.

Sorry, long, but I am a girl and I sometimes talk too much.

Check with the pharmacy about traveling, they should allow you to travel and get medications and strips ahead of time, up to a certain time period so you are paying co-pays rather than out of pocket for extras.

I would also take glucose tabs, or skittles or something, and Glucagon, if you can.  See if you can find someone you are rooming with who will not be affraid to use the glucagon.  Make sure you train them how to use it.  There are videos online, I saw the one on Lilly's website.  It also needs to stay at room temperature.  I would definitely make sure someone you will be with knows what to do if your sugar gets low.  Just tell them ahead of time warning signs and what to do, and they won't freak out.  If you have a seizure, you don't need a hospital, you just need glucagon and a day to recover.  You'll be fine.  Perhaps embarrassed if you have a seizure, but fine.

I, for instance, talk in my sleep when I am getting low.  If you catch me there, you can wake me, and tell me to eat something, and then I am fine.  I will argue with you about eating something, but if you are persistent, I will eat, and then I will be fine.  If I cannot be awakened I need glucagon.  If I have a seizure, I need glucagon.  We are all different, though.  Tell people, especially sleeping in the same room, what to watch for and specifics of what to do, and you will be totally fine and have so much fun.   

Traveling may cause your blood sugars to be unexpectedly high or low.  You will be eating new foods, and your sleep cycle will change, and your activity level will be different.  Your blood sugars may be hard to control, so just be prepared.  Prepare a few people around you.  Have fun!  I personaly would totally go and just check my sugar alot, but I check my sugar a lot now. 

I have noticed that if my strips get above say 100 deg F, they don't work properly.  Try to keep them in the temp range the vial recommends.  Never leave them in a parked car or a bus, if you can avoid it, b/c more likely to get hotter than you realize.

Check with the airlines about carrying the medical supplies on the flight.  I've never traveled with that many vials of insulin.  Keep the insulin on your person, and take an extra one you don't need, in case you drop one and it breaks.  Not sure what the restrictions might be for liquids on international flights. 

WOW! So much great advice. Thanks everybody!!! I'm still a lil nervous but i am sooo prepared for this adventure!!! I'll let cha know how it goes!!! : D