This is why many frequent travelers living with type 1 diabetes love Nicky WilliamsA full-time student who loves to document her travels on her blog, she always comes prepared with a travel checklist. This checklist helps people like Williams carefully manage type 1 diabetes and allows them to handle the unexpected.
“I was born with a sense of travel,” Williams said. “However, 14 years ago, my ability to travel was put to the test when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Thanks to my diabetes technician, my love of travel and passion for discovering different foods from around the world is stronger than ever. When I travel, I have less stress‡ “When I’m learning about new cultures and foods, I can’t get the carb count right. I let my MiniMed 780G system do what it does best and account for the unexpected so I can truly immerse myself in the experience rather than my diabetes.”
If you're planning a trip this summer and are looking for a better way to manage your diabetes, consider these tips:
Talk to your healthcare professional
Discuss your current treatment plan and any concerns you may have. Discuss any adjustments you may need to make, depending on where you are going, what you will be doing, and how your diet may be affected. Also, be sure to get a recent letter stating that you are diabetic and any special information about your needs that you can provide in case of an emergency.
Prepare your supplies
Pack your diabetes supplies in a carry-on bag and bring twice as much insulin as you think you’ll need. Consider packing insulin with a gel ice pack, which is less likely to be detected by baggage scanners. With a solution like the Medtronic Extended Infusion Set, travelers with diabetes have the option to carry it for extended periods of time—up to seven days—leaving more room to pack other items.
Navigating the airport
Traveling with medical equipment or supplies can be a stressful experience, especially if you are flying to your destination. When you arrive at security, report any equipment that is in your carry-on bag or attached to your body to the security officers. While you are not required to remove an attached device, you may be subject to additional screening, including a visual inspection, a pat-down, and other tracer tests of the device and supplies.
Research pharmacies
Find out where you can get extra supplies if you run out, your luggage gets lost, or some other unforeseen event affects your insulin or other supplies. Check to see if the pharmacy accepts your insurance and what types of supplies you might need. You can even call ahead to have your information entered into their system so they can help you more efficiently in case of an emergency. If something happens to your insulin pump, know that you have the option of getting a replacement or loaner pump while you’re traveling.
Protect your routine
Mealtimes are consistently cited as one of the most challenging aspects of diabetes management, and the change of pace that comes with travel and excursions can disrupt your routine. An automated insulin delivery system can help alleviate that stress when you forget to plan ahead. An option like the MiniMed 780G system protects you if you occasionally forget or miscalculate a dose.† The system’s advanced algorithm measures blood sugar levels every 5 minutes, assesses whether a meal has been consumed, and makes automatic insulin corrections and adjustments. With some of the manual work taken care of by the system, traveling becomes a smoother experience, allowing you to enjoy your favorite foods, relax, and savor your vacation.
To learn more about managing diabetes on the road, visit medtronicdiabetes.com/TravelTips.
‡ Refers to SmartGuard™ feature. Individual results may vary.
† Taking a bolus 15 to 20 minutes before a meal helps keep blood sugar under control after eating.
Important Safety Information: MiniMed™ 780G System with SmartGuard™ technology with Guardian™ 4 sensors
The MiniMed™ The 780G System is designed for continuous delivery of basal insulin at selectable rates and bolus insulin delivery at selectable amounts for the management of type 1 diabetes mellitus in individuals seven years of age and older requiring insulin and for continuous monitoring and trending of glucose levels in the fluid under the skin. The MiniMed™ The 780G system includes SmartGuard™ technology that can be programmed to automatically adjust insulin delivery based on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensor glucose values and can suspend insulin delivery when the sensor glucose (SG) value falls below or is expected to fall below preset threshold values.
Medtronic's MiniMed™ The 780G system consists of the following devices: MiniMed™ Guardian 780G Insulin Pump™ 4 transmitters, the Guardian™ 4 sensors, one-push inserter, the Accu-Chek™ Guide Link blood glucose meter and Accu-Chek™ Test Strip Guide. The system requires a prescription from a healthcare professional.
The Guardian™ Sensor 4 is intended for use with the MiniMed™ 780G System and Guardian 4 Transmitter for monitoring glucose levels as part of diabetes management. The sensor is intended for single use only and requires a prescription. The Guardian™ Sensor 4 is rated for continuous use for up to seven days.
The Guardian™ Sensor 4 is not intended to be used directly to make therapy adjustments while the MiniMed™ The 780G operates in manual mode. All therapy settings in manual mode should be based on measurements obtained using a blood glucose meter and not on values provided by the Guardian™ 4 sensors. The Guardian™ The Guardian 4 sensor has been studied and is approved for use in patients 7 years of age and older and only at the arm insertion site. Do not use the Guardian sensor™ 4 sensors in the abdomen or other body sites, including the buttocks, due to unknown or different performance that could result in hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.
WARNING: Do not use the SmartGuard™ Feature intended for individuals who require less than 8 units or more than 250 units of total daily insulin per day. A total daily dose of at least 8 units, but not more than 250 units, is required to function in SmartGuard™ functionality.
WARNING: Do not use the MiniMed™ 780G system until proper training has been received by a healthcare professional. Training is essential to ensure the safe use of the MiniMed™ 780G system.
WARNING: Do not use SG values to make treatment decisions, including bolus delivery, while the pump is running. Manual mode. When the SmartGuard™ the feature is active and you are no longer in Manual modeThe pump uses a glucose value from the glucose meter, when available, to calculate a bolus amount. However, if your symptoms do not match the glucose value from the glucose meter, use a blood glucose meter to confirm the glucose value from the glucose meter. Failure to confirm glucose levels when your symptoms do not match the glucose value from the glucose meter may result in too much or too little insulin infusion, which can cause hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.
Pump therapy is not recommended for individuals whose vision or hearing is not sufficient to recognize pump signals, alerts or alarms. MiniMed Safety™ The 780G System has not been studied in pregnant women, people with type 2 diabetes, or people using other antihyperglycemic therapies that do not include insulin. For complete system information, including product and important safety information such as indications, contraindications, warnings, and precautions associated with the system and its components, please visit https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/important-safety-information#minimed-780g and the appropriate user guide for https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/download-library
Prescription only. Subcutaneous insulin administration only. NOT for IV or blood products. Possible risk of infection/irritation. Follow directions and replace as directed. See https://bit.ly/infusionsetsafety
Abbreviated+: Prescription only. Subcutaneous insulin administration only. NOT for IV or blood products. See https://bit.ly/infusionsetsafety
The content and all information provided are for your informational use only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment in any way. Responses to treatment may vary from patient to patient. Always discuss diagnostic and treatment information with your physician and make sure you understand and follow this information carefully.
Michel French
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SOURCE Family Characteristics Editorial Syndicate