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Away from home

As you become a young adult and gain more independence, you’re likely to be faced with more opportunities to spend time away from home. Read on for more information on managing your diabetes whilst travelling and when starting university or college.

Travelling and Diabetes

Thinking of taking a trip around the world? Or your first holiday abroad on your own? You’ll have an amazing time – once you’ve got all the organisation and planning out of the way! But don’t worry, we’re here to help you plan for your epic adventure.

Here is a useful checklist to help you plan:

• Keep your medication, test strips and meter in your hand luggage so it’s close by, and so the temperature is at an appropriate level
• Devise a testing plan with your healthcare team before you go away
• Regularly test your blood glucose when you’re travelling
• Keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of water, especially in hot climates
• Pack twice as much medication and test strips as you’ll need, as you won’t know what’s available in other countries
• Ask your healthcare professional for advice on what to do in case you run out of medication or test strips abroad

Starting University or College

Going to university or college is an adventure as it’s probably the first time you’ve lived away from your family. This means you’ll have more responsibility over your diabetes care. You may choose to register with a new doctor closer to campus, or to confide in your new friends that you have diabetes. Here are some useful things for you to be aware of.

Registering

If you are moving away from your local area, you will have to consider registering with a new GP and diabetes care team. Universities and colleges often have their own medical centre for their students, so make sure you visit them before you start classes or lectures.

It is important to register at the medical centre for a number of reasons:

• Your new healthcare professional can advise you about local diabetes care support networks.
• Registering will ensure you are known to the centre, so they can keep an accurate record of your current medication.
• Once you have a doctor you can register with a local pharmacy for your repeat prescriptions.

If you have not received a MenC immunisation before leaving home and going to college or university, you should arrange to get one from your new doctor. The MenC vaccine offers you protection from the slightly higher risk of meningitis and septicaemia that you face in your first year.

Self monitoring

A change of lifestyle means you are likely to have to test your blood glucose more often, so do not forget to order extra strips before you leave. Keep a spare blood glucose meter just in case of loss/breakage.

Telling the key people

Make a point of meeting with your course tutors to tell them that you have diabetes, and explain to them what it involves. Discuss hypos and what having a hypo means to you – you may need to give them some leaflets summarising the basic information they need to know. Download this handy poster and give them a copy as a starting point.

Try to take time to speak to your current diabetes team before you move away. They can often make recommendations about diabetes clinics and advise you on what to do in your new home.

Holidays

If you change your GP while you are living and studying away from home, it is still important to continue attending your current diabetes clinic during the holidays.

You will be responsible for attending your annual medical review and ensuring you have your eyes screened regularly.

Accommodation

You are likely to be sharing accommodation, either flat sharing or living in halls of residence, so you should tell your flat mates or neighbours that you have diabetes. Take a little time to explain to them what this involves, talk to them about hypos, the signs and symptoms, and how they might have to assist you if you become unwell.

You may need to buy a small fridge for your room to keep your insulin and snacks cool. Make sure you remember to stock up on (and replace) your snacks and supplies – you are responsible for the shopping now! Emphasise to your flat mates and friends that your snacks are not for sharing... Unless of course they ask first!

Keep your sharps out of the way and make sure you have a sharps bin for disposal of insulin needles/blood glucose monitoring equipment.

Cooking

If you are in halls of residence then meals may be provided. If not, there are normally several places on campus where you can eat. But remember, although it may be easier to grab fast food, healthy eating is still important.

Take time to learn how to cook some healthy meals before you leave home. Find some of your favourite recipes and practise them before leaving. It might also be useful for you to take part in a carbohydrate counting course before you leave home so that you know how to match your insulin according to carbohydrate – this will help you to manage your diabetes.

DAFNE is just one of the carbohydrate courses available. The DAFNE website offers more information on how to get involved, and your diabetes care team can provide further advice on what carbohydrate counting options are available locally or near your uni/college.

Sickday management

When you have diabetes you need to take extra care if you become unwell. Illnesses such as colds, flu or infections may affect your diabetes control, as can some other treatments such as steroid tablets. Your diabetes health care team will be able to give you detailed advice, but some important points include:

• continue taking your insulin
• try to drink 3 litres of unsweetened fluids a day
• if you are unable to eat solids, try to eat carbohydrates by sipping Lucozade or eating ice cream
• you should check your blood glucose more frequently than normal
• if you are unable to drink without vomiting or having diarrhoea, you will quickly become dehydrated. This is a medical emergency and you should seek immediate medical help.

Social life

One of best things about leaving home and being independent is that you can fully enjoy your social life. While this may be great fun, there are a few things you should consider to make sure you enjoy yourself safely:

make sure you know how alcohol and drugs affect diabetes control, and how to manage any resulting changes in your diabetes

• be aware of the need to use contraception
• before any social event let your friends know what to do if you appear hypo
• carry hypo-stoppers with you at ALL times
• your friends might also be affected by alcohol and / or drugs, so may not be able to assist you. Make sure you are wearing some form of identification; there are a number of different styles of medical bracelets/neck-chains.

Freshers’ Week is one of the biggest social events of the year, and happens as soon as you arrive at university / college. Be sure to talk to your diabetes care team before you leave home and they will offer you some useful advice on managing your diabetes during this new and exciting time.

Emergencies

Make sure your friends and tutors know what to do in the case of a diabetes emergency – if you are ill or severely hypo. If there is someone prepared to administer a glucose injection, you should either carry this with you or make sure your friends and tutors know whom to contact. If not, then a pre-planned procedure should be followed. Make sure your friends and the appropriate university staff know your family’s emergency contact number.

Leaving home is an exciting and challenging time but with planning and the support of the university, friends, your diabetes care team and parents, you should be able to go and enjoy it without compromising your health. Remember, this is the start of the rest of your life... Enjoy it!

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