Diabetes is not the easiest condition to live with, but it’s not the toughest one to live with either. If you understand what diabetes is and how it works, then managing it is much simpler. Things can get complicated when you’re away from home, however. You may not have access to the same resources you had back home or have limited food options. This is why you need to prepare before you leave and know how to keep the situation under control wherever you are. Here are a few tips for managing diabetes while travelling.

Understand Your Condition

To manage your diabetes, you have to understand your condition. First of all, you should know that type 2 diabetes is not the same as type 1 diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes can’t make insulin and it’s a genetic condition. People with type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, are more resistant to insulin so they end up producing more of it when they eat food that triggers an insulin response.

This small distinction is very important. What this eventually means is that you can influence your symptoms and how much you have to monitor your condition with your dietary habits.

If you are still confused about the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, the London Diabetes Centre has lots of resources on all things related to diabetes and will teach you everything you need to know about type 2 diabetes. They also explain what is more likely to aggravate your condition and what can be done to control it.

Get Moving

People with type 2 diabetes need to stay active. For one, this will reduce insulin resistance and the reliance on medication. Second, physical activity can prevent type 2 diabetics from developing serious issues as they get older, especially heart-related ones.

Try to find a way to be active whenever you can. For example, if you’re at the airport waiting for a flight, you can always walk around until you’re ready to board. We also suggest that you invest in a good set of resistance bands. These will allow you to get decent resistance training from wherever you are whether it’s a park or your hotel room.

Start Researching Food Options Before You Leave

It would also be a good idea to research the local cuisine and food culture before going to a destination. Some countries will make it very hard for you to eat healthily, and you have to do some research on healthy options.

Stay away from street food altogether and see if you could make your own food. If you’re going to eat out, ask for recommendations for healthy places to eat and try to do your research on how the food is prepared there.

If you follow these few tips, you shouldn’t have issues managing your diabetes in a foreign destination. Just apply the same principles you do at home and study the destination thoroughly, so you won’t be caught off guard.