Diabetes + Vacation
Good afternoon! This weekend, my family and I went on vacation to Niagara Falls for a few days.
Let me tell you, it was AMAZING!!! Because Christmas is coming up, the Festival of Lights was on display, and it was gorgeous! We went walking next to the Falls, we went window-shopping, did some Christmas shopping, and lots of other stuff too.
Now when I think vacation, I automatically think relaxation, family-bonding, and sleeping in. I don't think finding restaurants with carb counts, will my pump stay on in the pool??, and battling lows and highs.
However, those things happen with diabetes, and we can't just leave diabetes behind. Although it would be great if we could :)
This week's post is about how to deal with diabetes-related problems while on vacation!!!
1. High Blood Sugars
On the first day of my vacation, breakfast sent me up to 20.3 mmol/L (365 mg/dL)!!!
We did a correction, but I was feeling high, grumpy, and really thirsty. Not the best feeling to have on vacation.
If this happens to you, then don't let it ruin your time away! Use this opportunity to go explore! Go for a long walk around the area, look at any cool landmarks, go window-shopping, and take some photos.
Or use the time to go swimming in the hotel pool! Swimming is lots of fun and very active.
The exercise will help bring down your blood sugars, and you will have a nice experience, too!
2. Restaurants Without Nutrition Information
If you're on vacation and the only place where you can get a bite to eat is a food truck that doesn't have the slightest clue what a nutrition guide is, then don't panic! It is easy to estimate a carb count with most foods.
If you're about to order pancakes from a breakfast place with no nutrition information, then ask if they make their pancakes from scratch or using a box mix.
If they are made using a box mix, then you're in luck! Box mixes always have nutrition information listed somewhere either on the box itself, or online. There you go! A carb count.
If they make their pancakes from scratch, then try comparing them to common recipes used online. 1 plain pancake (6 inch diameter) is usually worth about 20 carbs. Add 13 carbs for 1 tbsp of maple syrup and you're set!
You can do this with most foods. Meat sandwiches are usually worth about 30 carbs, chicken fingers are usually worth about 6 carbs each, and bacon, cheese, eggs and salad are free :)
If you're about to order pancakes from a breakfast place with no nutrition information, then ask if they make their pancakes from scratch or using a box mix.
If they are made using a box mix, then you're in luck! Box mixes always have nutrition information listed somewhere either on the box itself, or online. There you go! A carb count.
If they make their pancakes from scratch, then try comparing them to common recipes used online. 1 plain pancake (6 inch diameter) is usually worth about 20 carbs. Add 13 carbs for 1 tbsp of maple syrup and you're set!
You can do this with most foods. Meat sandwiches are usually worth about 30 carbs, chicken fingers are usually worth about 6 carbs each, and bacon, cheese, eggs and salad are free :)
3. Low Blood Sugars
Picture this:
You're on vacation for two days and you have tons of stuff planned. You want to go swimming, shopping, get coffee, walk in the park, watch a movie, go to Dairy Queen, and take pictures of national landmarks.
But your blood sugar is low. You are sitting on the bed in your hotel room, feeling like you're about to pass out, finishing your third juice box of the day, and would rather be outside sight-seeing.
There are so many amazing things to do and see, and you don't know where to start! But you feel
like you won't be able to accomplish as many things because you keep going low.
HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!!!
You can use this opportunity to your advantage! Remember how there were so many things to do and you didn't know what to do first? Use this time to schedule the rest of your trip so that you can do everything on your list, and maybe even more!
Picture this:
You're on vacation for two days and you have tons of stuff planned. You want to go swimming, shopping, get coffee, walk in the park, watch a movie, go to Dairy Queen, and take pictures of national landmarks.
But your blood sugar is low. You are sitting on the bed in your hotel room, feeling like you're about to pass out, finishing your third juice box of the day, and would rather be outside sight-seeing.
There are so many amazing things to do and see, and you don't know where to start! But you feel
like you won't be able to accomplish as many things because you keep going low.
HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!!!
You can use this opportunity to your advantage! Remember how there were so many things to do and you didn't know what to do first? Use this time to schedule the rest of your trip so that you can do everything on your list, and maybe even more!
4. No Mini-Fridge in Hotel Room
If you don't specifically ask for a mini-fridge to refrigerate your insulin when you're booking your hotel room, then odds are you won't get one.
But this problem is easily solved! Just call the front desk and explain that you need it to refrigerate your insulin, and that it is for health reasons.
They might be really nice and give you the fridge for free, or they might charge you for it.
When I went on vacation they gave it to us for free, and it saved us $30.
But not every hotel is like that, so be prepared to pay.
If you don't specifically ask for a mini-fridge to refrigerate your insulin when you're booking your hotel room, then odds are you won't get one.
But this problem is easily solved! Just call the front desk and explain that you need it to refrigerate your insulin, and that it is for health reasons.
They might be really nice and give you the fridge for free, or they might charge you for it.
When I went on vacation they gave it to us for free, and it saved us $30.
But not every hotel is like that, so be prepared to pay.
5. Prevent Problems!!!
Although there are solutions for most problems, you will probably enjoy your vacation more if you don't have to deal with them at all. The best way to make that possible is to be prepared!!!
Always bring more supplies than you think you'll need, try to go to restaurants with nutrition information, and don't let diabetes stop you from enjoying your vacation!!!
Till next week, Type 1 Warriors!!!
Thanks for reading this week's post of That Stupid Pancreas!
If there are any questions/comments/concerns don't hesitate to email me about it here!
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Today's question of the day is...
Would you rather go to the beach for a week, or spend the week sledding??
I'd totally go sledding! Comment your preference down below!!!
Although there are solutions for most problems, you will probably enjoy your vacation more if you don't have to deal with them at all. The best way to make that possible is to be prepared!!!
Always bring more supplies than you think you'll need, try to go to restaurants with nutrition information, and don't let diabetes stop you from enjoying your vacation!!!
Till next week, Type 1 Warriors!!!
Thanks for reading this week's post of That Stupid Pancreas!
If there are any questions/comments/concerns don't hesitate to email me about it here!
Check us out on Instagram here!
Or check us out on Google+ here!
And don't forget to check us out on Facebook here!
Do you want to get email notification every time I post something new? Then become part of the family by clicking the subscribe button at the top of the page.
Today's question of the day is...
Would you rather go to the beach for a week, or spend the week sledding??
I'd totally go sledding! Comment your preference down below!!!
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