“But those living with diabetes on vacation should pay attention to a few things and situations to ensure a smooth summer without diabetes dysregulation and without the risk of complications,” he points out. Dr. Andreas Melidonis Pathologist – DiabetologistCoordinating Director at Metropolitan Hospital’s Cardiometabolic Diabetes Center and continues, with some useful tips that can be a “compass” for a carefree summer vacation:

• Avoid “heavy” and large amounts of food in the summer. You prefer small and frequent meals. Stick to green salads, easily digestible foam fish, grilled and dry foods. Eat the fruit allowed in your diet (up to 3-4 servings of fruit per day), but re-examine the fruit ratios before you leave for your holiday.

• Also pay attention, especially to the holiday breakfast which can be skim milk or yogurt with brown bread or cereal and fruit. Resist the temptation to try everything from the hotel’s breakfast buffet!

• Soft drinks and especially iced ones are the cool note of life in the summer months. You can drink any soft drink you want with stevia or aspartame without any particular restrictions. When it comes to natural juices, you read the carbohydrate content on the packaging. Do not forget that 10 to 15 gr of carbohydrates correspond to one equivalent of fruit.

• Holiday fun is often combined with alcohol consumption. Small consumption is permissible. Heavy consumption is the starting point for short-term (risk of hypoglycemia) and long-term problems (weight gain). You can drink drinks that correspond to 20 – 25 g. alcohol daily divided into 2 doses. So be careful with alcohol, especially those who take insulin, and if taking alcohol is accompanied by intense exercise such as dancing, don’t forget to eat a small carbohydrate meal (toast, juice, fruit or crackers) in between to avoid hypoglycemia. And of course don’t drive when you’ve been drinking!

• Don’t forget your tithe before you swim. A piece of fruit or a small sandwich protects you from unwanted hypoglycemia while swimming.

• Avoid long exposure to the sun. Especially if you are on insulin, because faster insulin absorption is achieved and thus sudden, unexplained hypoglycemia can occur. It is therefore advisable to wear a hat. You schedule your swim by 11am. and after 4 p.m. afternoon. And if you wear continuous glucose monitoring sensors, avoid diving to prevent the sensor from malfunctioning.

• Avoid putting your feet in hot sand. Don’t walk barefoot on the beach, take at least two pairs of comfortable walking shoes and enough pairs of socks to change into. Do not walk around with bare feet on sandy beaches and unknown beaches.

• Walk as much as possible. If you travel by bus or in your car, take short walks during the stops. Carry something quick to eat in case meals are delayed. If you are traveling by plane, notify the airline in good time – at the time of booking – if you wish to be served a special meal for people with diabetes. If you don’t want to change your eating habits, make sure to take something with you. Dry air during flight is a minor problem. For this reason, drink plenty of fluids while on the plane. One glass of water at least for every hour of flight.

• Don’t forget when you arrive at your destination, keep the syringes and insulin you won’t use immediately, as well as the glucagon injection in the fridge. Insulin is stored at room temperature for a period of 6 weeks without undergoing deterioration. The sugar strips are kept at a temperature of 18°C ​​to 30°C.

a) Find out about the existence of a hospital or Health Center near your place of residence. It is useful to have your doctor’s phone number with you. Don’t forget the self-monitoring diary so you can keep in touch with your diabetes control even on vacation.

b) Take care and organize your personal travel list before departure. Stock up on the necessary blood or urine sugar test strips for as long as you expect to be away. If you measure your blood sugar, don’t forget your blood sugar meter. It will be a good companion and a protection and safety device in your vacation. And if you are of course familiar with new technologies and use continuous glucose monitoring devices, do not forget the sensor and the sensor application device (like the Free Style Libre) in order to continuously monitor your sugar in the most modern and safe way.

c) Stock up on the necessary syringes, insulin needles or pens. Glucagon injection. Your anti-diabetic tablets, if you are taking tablets. Also the medicines related to any complications of diabetes.

“And of course, it is understood that we do not forget the observance of some basic preventive measures to eliminate any risk of infection by the coronavirus which is still present in our everyday life, albeit at a much lower frequency. With positive thinking and mood we safely enjoy all the pleasant moments that summer gives us in abundance.

In order to enjoy our holidays, we apply preventive measures and thus prevent the unwanted consequences that will deprive us of the joy of the holidays”, concludes Dr. Melidonis.