Let me paint a picture for you. It’s the night before your family trip. The kids’ suitcases are (mostly) packed. You’ve downloaded a few shows on your iPad. You’ve confirmed the hotel reservation three times. And then it hits you, the familiar wave of mental math that only a T1D knows: How many infusion sites do I need? How will I keep my insulin cold? What happens if my pump fails at 30,000 feet?
Traveling is already basically an Olympic sport when you’re a mom. Add Type 1 Diabetes to the mix, and now you also have to consider medication and supply logistics, planning for meals and snacks, and keeping yourself alive while making sure nobody leaves their favorite stuffed animal at the airport.
All jokes aside, you absolutely CAN travel with T1D. You just need a solid game plan. I’ve learned a lot through trial, error, and one particularly memorable work trip where I forgot my insulin at home.
Consider this article your go-to travel checklist, the one I wish someone had handed me years ago.
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Before You Leave: The Prep Work
It can help to get your ducks in a row a few weeks or months before you leave. If you’re traveling across time zones, ask your endocrinologist about adjusting basal rates or long-acting insulin timing. Also ask your doctor’s office for a letter on official letterhead stating that you have Type 1 Diabetes and require insulin, syringes, pump supplies, and a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). This is especially important for international travel and clearing airport security without a hassle. Having it in hand beats trying to explain your pump to a confused TSA agent while your toddler is sprinting toward the moving walkway.
Make sure you have enough insulin and supplies to last your entire trip, plus a buffer of at least 3–5 extra days. I personally try to pack 3 times the amount I think I will need for my pump and CGM supplies. You never know when your flights will get delayed or if your infusion site will rip out at the worst possible moment. Plan for the “what ifs.”
Research pharmacies and hospitals at your destination. It takes five minutes and gives you enormous peace of mind. Know where the nearest pharmacy is in case you need emergency supplies. If you’re going international, research whether your insulin brand is available locally.
Lastly, confirm your insurance coverage. Does your plan cover you out of state or out of the country? Do you need travel health insurance? Look into this before you’re standing in an urgent care clinic in another country Googling “does my insurance work here” with one bar of cell service.
What to Pack: Carry-On Essentials
Now for the really important part. This is what I pack in my carry-on (never in checked luggage). Insulin can freeze or get too warm in cargo, and if your checked bag goes missing, so do all of your supplies. Your diabetes supplies MUST stay with you. As a T1D, you are even eligible to preboard to ensure there is enough overhead space for your bag. You are also able to bring an extra medical supply carry-on that does not count towards your two allotted carry-ons.
- Insulin – Enough for the trip plus extra. Both rapid-acting and long-acting, even if you are a pump user so you have a backup if your insulin pump or phone break or get lost.
- Insulin pen needles or syringes – Even if you’re a pumper, always bring a manual backup.
- Pump supplies – Infusion sets, reservoirs/cartridges, extra batteries or a charging cable, and a backup pump if your manufacturer offers a loaner program.
- CGM supplies – Extra sensors, transmitters, and the receiver if you use one. Nothing ruins a beach day like a sensor error with no backup.
- Pump or CGM adhesive patches – to help keep your devices on, especially if you are going somewhere warm where you will be sweating and swimming more than usual.
- Blood glucose meter and test strips – Old school? Yes. Reliable when your CGM goes rogue? Also yes.
- Ketone strips – Ketone monitoring is important if you’re dealing with unexplained highs, illness, or pump failure while away from home.
- Fast-acting glucose – Juice boxes, glucose tabs, gummy candies – whatever fast-acting glucose works for you. I stash these everywhere: my purse, my office, the car, next to my bed. You never know when a low is going to sneak up on you.
- Snacks – Cheese crackers, nut butter packets, protein bars, Chomps sticks. Because sometimes the only restaurant near your hotel closes at 7 PM and you still need to keep your blood sugar stable. I personally love to stock up on snacks from Thrive Market before a trip.
- A cooling case for insulin – Especially if you’re headed somewhere warm. Insulin degrades in heat. A Frio wallet, Breezy Pack, or PackIt insulated pouch is a small investment that protects a very expensive (and very necessary) medication.
- Sharps container or a small hard-sided container – For safe needle disposal on the go. A small plastic travel container works in a pinch.
- Medical ID – Bracelet, necklace, watchband sleeve, or card in your wallet. If something happens and you can’t advocate for yourself, this speaks for you.
At the Airport: What to Expect
If you’re flying, here’s the good news: TSA and most international security agencies are accustomed to travelers with diabetes supplies. You do not have to remove your insulin pump or CGM for screening. You can request a pat-down instead of going through the body scanner if you prefer, though most modern pumps and CGMs are cleared for walk-through metal detectors. Know your device manufacturer’s recommendations.
Keep supplies in a clear bag so they’re easy to pull out and show if asked. Carry your travel letter and have it accessible, not buried in the bottom of your bag. Declare your supplies to the agent before screening begins. A calm, confident “I have diabetes supplies including insulin and needles” usually moves things along quickly.
And if you plan to stop at Starbucks on your way to the gate, make sure you order a blood-sugar-friendly option!
On the Trip: Staying Ahead of the Chaos
Here’s where it gets challenging. You’re managing blood sugars while also managing unfamiliar food, disrupted routines, and possibly jet lag and small humans. Give yourself grace, and lean into these strategies:
- Set CGM alarms generously. Vacation often means more activity, different meals, and unpredictable schedules, all of which can cause more blood sugar swings than usual. Widen your alert range slightly if constant alarms are going to stress you out, but don’t silence them entirely.
- Stay hydrated. It sounds basic, but dehydration and high blood sugar are best friends. Carry a water bottle everywhere, especially if you’re chasing kids around a theme park or hiking in the heat. I love adding electrolytes to my water to help with hydration; my favorite is LMNT.
- Don’t skip meals. You might feel pressure to push through and keep the itinerary moving, but your body needs fuel, and your blood sugar doesn’t care about the schedule. Sit down. Eat the snack. Bolus. The waterfall hike will still be there in ten minutes.
- Adjust expectations around food. Vacation eating is different. New cuisines, restaurant meals, and treats are part of the joy. Do your best with carb counting, correct when needed, and resist the urge to beat yourself up over a post-gelato spike.
- Have a buddy system. Make sure your travel partner knows the basics: where your supplies are, what a low looks like, how to use glucagon, and when to call for help. A 30-second refresher conversation before the trip can matter enormously.
In Summary
I want to end here because this is the part no checklist can fully capture. Traveling with T1D can be very stressful, especially as a mom. You carry the mental load of the family and the mental load of a chronic illness, and sometimes those two things collide in exhausting ways.
Remember, you are not a burden. Your supplies are not “too much.” Your need to stop and treat a low is not an inconvenience. You deserve the trip, the adventure, and the memories just as much as everyone else in the family.
So pack the extra bag, bring the backup supplies and snacks, and go make some amazing memories!