Holiday worries, any advice

Hi all, I would like some help and support in something that should be a good opportunity. I have been diabetic since 3 and was fortunate to be selected for DAFNE and completed the course in March this year. Overall it has been the wake-up call I needed to get the control back, but I have found that my confidence has taken a bit of knock, while I am still learning and developing my confidence in the DAFNE regime which I appreciate will not happen overnight.
I have been extremely lucky in these hard times the opportunity of a trip to Florida next March with my family, which before I would be extremely excited about. However since this I have found that it has caused me extreme worry and concern concerning my diabetes, which has caused some tension.
Since starting DAFNE I have had one hospital admission due to an infection, and basically not eating which caused Ketones while following the sick day rule. Which I have learnt from so hopefully this was a learning curve. I am much better at identifying Hypo symptom’s, but do tend to have more smaller hypos than before, but my diabetes is now in a preferred range than running high like I was for all those years.
My concern is that with DAFNE you do need to be in control and totally accurate with the CPS you take on board to calculate the correct dosage. Last weekend I went away for three days with my wife and basically had to estimate my dosage for all of my eating, as were eating out for breakfast – lunch and dinner. I used my carbs and cals book, but found over the three days my BG was increasing and the corrections were getting larger and by the 3rd day had started to feel unwell. But by the time I got back into my routine things settled down quickly.
My concern being that if I go I feel things well be a mess in a matter of days, as I tend historically for things to become bad extremely quickly when my tests are bad. I feel that with the mixture of heat, eating out all the time, different labelling, active holiday and maybe a few beers that it is a disaster waiting to happen. As I am still learning and developing my skills at such an early stage of me being on DAFNE. I just feel that is too early for me to commit to this holiday, if it was further afield I would feel happier. Any thoughts???

Hi, PLEASE don't take this the wrong way or as a criticism but I suspect you are worrying too much about being totally accurate and so are getting anxious. This will tend to elevate your BG which makes you more anxious and it becomes a self-perpetuating cycle. I know its easy to say but... two weeks of higher BG's will not do you any great harm in the overall scheme of life and if you don't worry so much about your BG while on holiday you will probably be more likely to stay in range.
I have been to Florida a few times and if its a family holiday that probably means theme parks. This means plenty of walking which will keep your BG's down anyway, the challenge will be to ensure you take on CP's regularly and keep you BG at higher level. I appreciate everyone is different and face different challenges but I had no real
problems at all in the USA. They all sort of speak english and food labelling is not that much different to here. Sure most of the food has a higher carb content than
here so you have to beware what you eat, but providing you keep testing and making correction doses you will be fine. One thing to remember that if you are doing a lot of walking it will have a knock on effect the NEXT day when your body is still using sugars even if you have stopped walking around.
I say go for it, if you have not been before it is an experience ! You will learn to appreciate the art of parting people from their money in more and more elaborate ways

Hi ketostix - you don't mention how long since you have done the course, but I have found that you do get used to estimating CP's in foods when eating out, and it does get easier based on experience. As Mark says you don't have to be spot on all the time; if you do get an unexpectedly high or low reading then try and figure out why it was, and then learn from it.

Having said that if you think you are getting CP's right and your BG readings are constantly going up, it may be worth considering upping your QA:CP ratio to 1.5:1 or 2:1

Finally, remember March is 4 months away, which is 4 months of learning and adjustment using the DAFNE principles - I'd say don't miss out on the fantastic opportunity of a trip to Florida - you will have learned a whole lot more by then anyway.

Simon

Hi -first post from me. I've been to the US twice since being diagnosed three years ago and found the carbs a lot more different to handle. My advise is this - dafne let's you correct if you need to -it's the only regime I've ever been on, so this to me is good feature, no? If the blood sugar goes up a bit then you can sort it out with adjustment. The temperature will affect your readings big style. Best advice I can share is to take double of everything with you -meters, pens, needles, test strips, and have a set in hand luggage and a set checked in. That way you have double what you need for the whole trip, which is reassurance indeed. Take a Daniels bin also. Work out what you need in advance, see the gp for a monumental prescription, pack wisely and enjoy the trip. Customs and airline security was no hassle -I had a letter off my gp explaining that I needed all the paraphernalia on me during the flights (as well as a pocket full of cola bottles). HTH

I would say you are worrying too much, but I suppose that cant be helped...........

The typical holidaying activity you describe is similar to that of my weekends. My normal weekly routine goes out the window and my levels rise, as I am eating out and drinking alcohol.

I personally think this opportunity will be good for you, allowing you to see how you perform in the holiday environment. Being able to resist some temptations will be tested, but ultimately you can eat anything, so will be good practice for carb counting.

If you do feel its getting out of control you can just go carb free.........

I hope you can relax and look forward to it......

Thanks guys for taking the time to reply and the advice given, very much appreciated. Many thanks Dean

Hi , I have been away before and after the Dafne course , and I can say the control after the Dafne course was a great deal better has you have the tools to correct and sort out while away and also when you get back home ,
Go for it and have a great time

Dean,

Hi from KOREA,

I left Australia a week ago, the flight was great, lots of testing though and a few mystery dishes but all in all a great trip. The weather here is different from home (significantly colder) and I find I need less insulin but again a handful of jelly beans, drop in doses and again OK.

I have done a fair bit of travel and find that the couple of days after you arrive requires a bit more attention and then you slip into the new pattern and similarly when you return.

I always carry 33g CHO Muesli bars (no trouble getting them in or out of customs as they are labelled and sealed). The most I have eaten was nearly 30 on a trip to China (10 years and pre Dafne ago!). You can even pour milk on them for a breakfast cereal! Keep a stash of something you are familiar with handy just in case.

Have a great trip. Helen