Traveling with Diabetes: Be Ready to Treat Severe Hypoglycemia

Traveling With Diabetes: 13 Tips To Be Safe and Ready

Stay on top of your diabetes management and make the most of your trip

Lauren Barr

March 15, 2023

Traveling can be stressful — and if you have diabetes, there’s a bit more prep work that goes into ensuring your trip runs smoothly. Still, getting time away and breaking up your everyday routine is good for your mental health and can help you reconnect with yourself, family and friends.

From deciding what you need to pack in your carryon to choosing where you’ll eat and what you’ll do for fun, it’s important to be able to relax and enjoy your vacation while staying on top of your diabetes management. Continue reading to discover our top tips for making the most of your time away.

Tips for traveling with diabetes

Putting a little extra thought into your vacation can ensure you have a safe, fun and enjoyable trip. Here’s what to focus on if you or your travel companion has diabetes:

Before you go

Don’t travel with expired medication. Call your doctor before your trip to get refills and consider packing extra in case of travel delays.
- Bring an extra CGM sensor and blood glucose monitor.
- If you take insulin or sulfonylureas, make sure you have ready-to-use glucagon, so you’re ready for a severe low. Gvoke HypoPen® (glucagon injection) is a ready-to-use rescue pen that anyone can administer. It’s convenient for travel since it doesn’t require refrigeration.
Consider packing a doctor’s note (especially if you don’t have a medical ID bracelet) explaining your diabetes diagnosis and medication requirements.
Locate a nearby pharmacy or medical clinic at your destination.
Pack your diabetes supply kit (including medications and travel snacks) in an easy-to-find, labeled carryon bag. You can even purchase a diabetic travel case.
Bring comfortable walking shoes so you can stay active.

During your trip

Allow extra time at the airport to get through security with your diabetes supplies.
Consider letting your flight attendant know you have diabetes if you’re traveling on a long-distance flight.
Your activity levels and eating habits will likely change during your trip. Check your blood sugar often and treat any lows or highs as instructed by your doctor.
Keep your insulin cool and out of direct sunlight.
Stay hydrated and get plenty of rest.
Make sure your traveling companions know where your glucagon is, when to use it and how to use it.

When you get home

When you unpack your equipment and supplies, check for any issues and ensure everything is working properly.
Refill any medications that are running low.

Preparation can make a huge difference when you travel with diabetes. The less you have to worry about your diabetes care, the more you can focus on being in the moment and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

INDICATION AND SAFETY SUMMARY

GVOKE is a prescription medicine used to treat very low blood sugar (severe hypoglycemia) in adults and kids with diabetes ages 2 years and above. It is not known if GVOKE is safe and effective in children under 2 years of age.

WARNINGS

Do not use GVOKE if:

you have a tumor in the gland on top of your kidneys (adrenal gland), called a pheochromocytoma.
you have a tumor in your pancreas called an insulinoma.
you are allergic to glucagon or any inactive ingredient in GVOKE.

GVOKE MAY CAUSE SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, INCLUDING:

High blood pressure
GVOKE can cause high blood pressure in certain people with tumors in their adrenal glands.

Low blood sugar
GVOKE can cause low blood sugar in certain people with tumors in their pancreas called insulinomas by making too much insulin in their bodies.

Serious allergic reaction
Call your doctor or get medical help right away if you have a serious allergic reaction including:

rash
difficulty breathing
low blood pressure

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS

The most common side effects of GVOKE in adults include:

nausea
vomiting
swelling at the injection site
headache

The most common side effects of GVOKE in children include:

nausea
low blood sugar
high blood sugar
vomiting
abdominal pain
headache
pain or redness at the injection site
itching

These are not all the possible side effects of GVOKE. For more information, ask your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You are encouraged to report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

BEFORE USING

Before using GVOKE, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

have adrenal gland problems
have a tumor in your pancreas
have not had food or water for a long time (prolonged fasting or starvation)
have low blood sugar that does not go away (chronic hypoglycemia)
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if GVOKE passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you can use GVOKE while breastfeeding.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

HOW TO USE

Read the detailed Instructions for Use that come with GVOKE.
Use GVOKE exactly how your healthcare provider tells you to use it
Make sure your relatives, close friends, and caregivers know where you store GVOKE and how to use it the right way before you need their help.
Act quickly. Having very low blood sugar for a period of time may be harmful.
Your healthcare provider will tell you how and when to use GVOKE.
After giving GVOKE, your caregiver should call for emergency medical help right away.
If you do not respond after 15 minutes, your caregiver may give you another dose, if available. Tell your healthcare provider each time you use GVOKE. Low blood sugar may happen again after receiving an injection of GVOKE. Your diabetes medicine may need to be changed.

HOW TO STORE

Keep GVOKE pre-filled syringe and HypoPen in sealed foil pouch until time of use.
Keep GVOKE kit vial and pouched syringe together in original carton until time of use.
Store GVOKE at temperatures between 68°F and 77°F.
Do not keep it in the refrigerator or let it freeze.

Keep GVOKE and all medicines out of the reach of children.

For more information, call 1-877-937-4737 or go to www.GvokeGlucagon.com.

Please see the Full Prescribing Information for Gvoke