Interview with my Brother – traveling with a Diabetic

My brother, Elliot and I have traveled together quite a bit. A lot as a family while we were growing up, and more recently we have taken some domestic and international trips together. Growing up together my brother is very well aware of me and type 1 diabetes. He’s aware of how important it is to have all of the supplies, and what to do in an emergency. Also, he is very familiar with who I am as a person and my personality and how diabetes can change my personality.

Interview Background

I hope this interview can help those without type 1 diabetes care for and be there for someone who does have diabetes. During the interview we go through all of our trips and the diabetic emergencies that have happened. It was also a fun way to relive these trips and all of the fun, silly things that happened. Most of these fun things have nothing to do with diabetes, they were just a part of traveling.

Please read my disclaimer and reach out to a medical doctor if you have any questions about yourself and how best to travel.

All responses are direct quotes from my brother. (Anything in parentheses is additional information I added, post-interview to give more context for you, the reader).

How many times have we traveled together for more than 1 night and where have we gone?

Iceland, New Zealand, if you want to count India for our friend’s wedding then that one. We also went to Myrtle Beach during college when our spring breaks matched up. And if you want to count our Big Bear ski trip, but that was the shortest trip we had.

(In chronological order:

2010 – Myrtle Beach for less than a week

2014 – Big Bear ski trip for two days

2015 – Iceland for one week

2018/2019 – New Zealand for three weeks

2019 – India for one week)

Thinking of our history traveling together, how many times did it dawn on you that I was a diabetic? And how often does that not even enter your brain?

It really depends on the trip. When we were in Iceland it was pretty continuous, unless we were in the middle of an activity. There was that low (blood sugar) scare. But it was mainly due to the consistent monitoring of how accurate the CGM was during this whole trip, that kept it more on the forefront of my mind.

In India I didn’t think about it much, but there was a lot going on and we didn’t have to plan much and were toted around from place to place.

After the second day in New Zealand, I was more aware during any long hikes, because of how the first hike went. Hiking made it easier for you blood sugar to drop. Being very active made you take less insulin. (being active dropping blood sugar numbers was brough up in a pervious blog post (linked here)).

Generally, as long as we are hanging out and food isn’t as involved (when I have to check my blood sugar number and inject myself with insulin) but generally speaking unless there’s an issue or diabetic related things, it wasn’t top of mind

What about thinking about diabetes for planning purposes?

In terms of planning and activities, planning around diabetes isn’t a forefront in my mind. It’s limiting to a degree, but I haven’t ever thought of it as physically limiting.

When have you been the most scared while traveling with me?

It would have to be that Iceland morning. (this incident will be explained in detail in a future blog post)

During, I knew I needed to do something. I couldn’t do what I needed to do even though I knew what I needed to do. I also didn’t know how close we were to a real emergency (where he would have to call an ambulance).

Talking to you didn’t help me comprehend what was going on, that was terrifying. I don’t know what to do, but I know I need to solve this. But I also know that I can’t let on that I’m terrified because I didn’t want you to panic (as I was acting like the most stubborn 5-year-old).

Did you feel any other emotions, other than fear?

More scared, maybe mild annoyance, because it was a weird child-like response. I don’t think anger ever came thorough, because this was a health-related thing and not actually you.

How long did it take me to start acting “normal” after drinking the juice?

Less than 10 minutes after taking a juice you came out of it. I remember it not being long, that’s for sure.

How did you feel after this, when we were down eating breakfast?

Elliot: Feelings of relief. That was mainly it. Because it seemed like a weird, freakish thing. You didn’t know what it was, so it was relief (that this wasn’t normal and we were finally past it).

Did this incident in Iceland change how you felt and prepared to travel with me moving forward?

I don’t think so no. Because it was such a weird occurrence. And talking with you afterwards, before or since, nothing like that had happened. I think there is the standard stuff, you know, make sure you have enough sugar, monitor that, etc. But nothing that bad relating to this event.

Maybe, just making sure you have enough sugar before bed, so you don’t go low overnight. I remember that was a concern.

Thinking back, how do you think you handled this situation?

I handled myself better (in the Iceland situation) than I would have thought. I grew up with you as a diabetic, so that’s all I know. (My brother knows me so well he knows when I am acting out of the ordinary and when diabetes has taken over my personality and makes me act differently)

What advice do you have for others who are going to travel with a type 1 diabetic?

I guess, I don’t know how it would be, talk to them about what their limitations are when traveling, if they have any. Especially if you are going to be active. Always have sugary snacks, and make sure they’re aware of the risk of being low, anytime you’re doing active things.

How has traveling with me, taught you about yourself/society/different cultures?

Ugh, really? (He takes a few seconds to think about the question before responding. I did warn him I would ask him questions he would have to think about, and this one got him. The older sister in me was very happy with his immediate response to this question!)

It hasn’t taught me anything about society and different cultures, other than the ignorance of the disease in general. People have heard of it but don’t know what it is. Side bar – they need to differentiate type 1 and type 2 diabetes. They are two completely different diseases. (this turned into the two of us talking about the differences and how when people in the USA say diabetes, they mean type 2 diabetes. Learn more about the differences at UVA Health and Cleveland Clinic)

What’s been the best thing about traveling with me (try to make it related to diabetes)?

(He takes a few seconds to think about it, nothing comes to him right away) There are more snacks around, and I get to eat them if you don’t need them. I don’t know, I’m just….. It’s a disease that limits you, so thinking of benefits to it… it’s a disease. It’s not going to create benefits, generally speaking. Unless you’re getting medical perks.

What do you think is the hardest part for me when traveling?

My thought is being able to account for how different your life is too normal (he means how different my life is when traveling to a normal life when I am at home. When I travel, I tend to do a lot more physical activity than when I’m at home), in terms of scheduling and activities. And accounting for that when you are getting your blood sugar number to a normal/good level. At least when we travel it’s very different than your normal life, so getting and keeping your number to a normal level is more difficult.

What is the easiest/best part about traveling for me?

I don’t know. Getting new gear (the CGM). I don’t want to say snacks all the time, but that’s the only thing I can think of that’s an actual benefit. Oh no, I have to try some fancy local sweets.

How did it feel for you the first time we travelled together, knowing that you were the sole person who would be there in a diabetic emergency?

I didn’t even think about it.

Is there anything or anywhere you think I can’t or shouldn’t go because of diabetes? Would that stop me?

Not that I can think of. I don’t know if any locations, like high altitude or any of those types of things that would affect blood sugar.

It would stop you, depending on what it was.

Anything you would like to add?

As long as you know how to handle it, it shouldn’t limit you in travel.