Jen's Diabetes Blog - August 2007

15th August 2007

Airports, Needles & Diabetics

In a recent Saturday Times article, it was claimed that waiting in the queue to go through the security check at the airport is one of the most stressful events. 

That's no surprise to anyone travelling with either needles or an insulin pump - in several European airports Alissa has had to be searched by a female security guard. 

On one notable occasion in Switzerland we were escorted through the airport by a security guard who had to ask the Captain personally if he would be happy to have her on board, as she was carrying sharp objects without (horrors) a letter from her doctor.

We now arrive at the airport in plenty of time, check in early so that we can keep our blood pressure and tempers within manageable limits and then sit, relaxed, in the airport lounge - with the increased security in many airports, this certainly seems the sensible thing to do.

And, yes, we do make sure that we take the letter from the hospital with us every time !

14th August 2007

Heat, Summer & Diabetes

It's funny how you can seem to spend months getting sugar levels right - then, suddenly (well, as if) they're OK all the time, simply by doing nothing.

I'm thinking of calling it the "summer" effect - whether it's just that the insulin is more easily absorbed in the warmer weather (though, this summer in England could not have been called hot) or just that more energy is used - I wish I knew.

One thing's for sure, by doing nothing, Alissa's levels have been great - compared to her winter levels which were pretty poor.

The only other factor that would come into it is food - but even through the summer we've been enjoying the same homemade vegetable soups that she's been eating in the winter.

As my friend might say, "go figure"!

Any suggestions on how, why this works - please contact us!