Travel Smart, Not Perfect: Ana and Nefeli Talk Diabetes on the Road

Travelling with diabetes doesn't mean putting your plans on hold. Instead, it means being prepared, staying flexible, and adapting to new situations.

As summer travel season continues, we asked some of our MELISSA experts to share their practical reminders for people with diabetes to enjoy their holidays with confidence. The message was simple but important: successful travel is not about achieving perfect glucose levels, but about making informed decisions and being ready for the unexpected. Hear from people with diabetes in MELISSA.

Preparation is the best travel companion

Some essentials never change. Whether you are travelling far or just out and about in your hometown, carrying hypo treatments, ensuring access to insulin, packing backup supplies, knowing what to do if you become ill, and checking glucose levels more frequently when routines change are all part of travelling safely with diabetes. Like wearing a seatbelt, you hope you won't need these precautions – but you'll be grateful they're there if you do.

Flexibility over perfection

Travelling means different mealtimes, unfamiliar foods, and often far more walking than usual. Diabetes management needs to adapt to those changes. A glucose reading that might normally prompt an immediate correction could be handled differently if you're about to spend the next four hours exploring a city on foot. Likewise, estimating carbohydrates at a local restaurant is often more realistic than trying to calculate every ingredient perfectly.

Nefeli: "When I'm wandering through a new city all day, I usually wait before correcting a slightly high glucose level. The walking often does part of the work for me."

Ana: "I'm the same. Diabetes isn't happening in a laboratory. Usually keeping an eye on my numbers while waiting to see if walking brings them down is the way to go for me."

Holiday meals are part of the adventure

Street food, family-run restaurants, local delicacies… holidays are full of delicious surprises, but not always nutrition labels. Rather than worrying about getting every carbohydrate count exactly right, experienced travellers often rely on educated guesses and adjust afterwards if needed. One imperfect meal doesn't define the day.

Ana: "I've definitely looked at a plate of pasta and thought, 'Well… let's make our best estimate!' I rarely try to look up carb counts. Usually, I estimate based on my experience."

Nefeli: "Often I do the same. However, sometimes I try to look up carb counts, especially if I am trying a meal I never had before. Most importantly I always prioritise to enjoy the experience rather than spending twenty minutes trying to calculate every gram."

Let the holiday set the schedule

Vacations don't usually follow everyday routines. Breakfast might happen at 11 a.m., dinner much later than usual, and sightseeing often takes priority over the clock. Instead of forcing the holiday to fit a home routine, adapting insulin timing and meal planning can make travelling both safer and more enjoyable.

Nefeli: "If breakfast turns into brunch, I simply adjust. That's part of travelling."

Ana: "The holiday shouldn't revolve around diabetes. I never force my holiday into my home schedule."

The best travel stories involve unexpected adventures

Flights get delayed. Sensors fail. Glucose levels surprise us. Travel is unpredictable for everyone, and diabetes simply adds another layer of planning. The key isn't avoiding every problem – it's being ready to deal with them calmly. Carrying glucose treatments, packing backups, and knowing how to respond can turn a stressful moment into a manageable one.

Ana: "I always carry glucose everywhere and never leave the hotel without hypo treatment."

Nefeli: " You never know when a 'quick walk' turns into a 20,000-step adventure. That's why I never leave the hotel without hypo treatment and some extra snacks."

Confidence to enjoy the journey

Perhaps the most important lesson from travelling with diabetes is that perfection isn't the goal. The goal is confidence. Confidence to adapt, confidence to solve problems, and confidence to enjoy the places, people, and experiences that make travelling memorable.

Ana: "The flight is delayed. My sensor fails. That is part of the journey. I try not to panic, use my backups, correct the highs or lows and move on."

Nefeli: "It's the memories we make along the way. That’s why I come prepared, so I can correct and carry on."

Diabetes shouldn't stop anyone from exploring the world. By combining preparation with flexibility, every journey can become an opportunity to discover not only new places, but also new confidence. Make memories. Manage safely. Adapt when needed. Enjoy the journey.

The experiences shared by Ana and Nefeli reflect personal approaches to travelling with diabetes. Your diabetes may be different. Please follow the advice of your healthcare professionals when planning your travels.