· CDE Mehandi Sharma
How to Manage Diabetes While Travelling
Travelling with diabetes in India comes down to two things: keeping your medicines usable in the heat, and not being caught without food when a journey runs long.
Insulin and heat
This is the part most often got wrong. Official storage guidance is specific:
| Situation | Temperature | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Unopened, stored | 2–8°C (refrigerated) | Until the expiry date |
| In use, out of the fridge | 15–30°C | Up to 28 days |
| Above 30°C | Loses effectiveness | Replace when you can |
| Frozen | Do not use | Discard, even after thawing |
An Indian summer routinely exceeds 30°C, and a car dashboard or a bag in direct sun goes far higher. Carry insulin in an insulated pouch or a cooling wallet in your hand luggage, never in checked baggage, where it can freeze in the hold. Never leave it in a parked car.
The rest of the checklist
- Carry twice the medicine you think you need, split between two bags.
- Carry a prescription or a doctor's note, especially for needles at airport security.
- Keep something that treats a low in your pocket, not in the bag on the rack.
- Pack food you actually like — roasted chana, peanuts, a fruit. Station and highway food is nearly all fried carbohydrate.
- Test more often than usual. Travel days break every routine you have.
More detail in travelling with diabetes in India.