Travelling By Train With Diabetes
Travelling by train with diabetes can raise a few challenges but on the whole it is a lot easier than travelling by coach , car or air. Only cruse liners are probably easier.
Day trips.
If you are taking a journey from one town to another in a first world country there should be no problem. You will obviously have what supplies you need for the time you are planning to be away from home plus a bit extra in case of delays.
You will also need to take along a few snacks for emergencies, though most trains will have a trolley that sells drinks and snacks.
However, in some underdeveloped countries even short journeys can turn into marathon trips. They are usually overcrowded and lack sufficient seating, suitable ventilation and many other facilities. If toilets are available it is doubtful if you would even consider using them and sterility would definitely be a problem!
It may be very difficult to give yourself a shot in these circumstances, not to mention the fact that ignorance is rife in many backward countries and you could find yourself in serious trouble if you bandy a syringe about.
In Africa, for instance, syringes are suspect because there are strange people out there who, because they have contacted AIDS, feel bitter enough to try and pass it on to as many other people as possible and do this by sticking an infected needle in whoever they can. Just showing a syringe in a crowded train could get you lynched!
So, if you cannot avoid taking the train try and find out when their quietest times are and choose one that leaves as soon after your last injection as possible, giving yourself the longest period before you need to inject again.
Make sure you take plenty of water and carb loaded food with you plus emergency snacks like cereal bars and boiled sweets to cope with a hypo.
It is up to you but my advice would be – NEVER TRAVEL ALONE on a train in a third world country.
Train tours.
Many countries offer tours by train and these are a different kettle of fish. They are organised towards the comfort of the passenger.
The rules that apply to coaches apply here too so I am not going to repeat them. Anyone interested can go and read that section.
However there are a few differences, mainly to the advantage of the train traveller.
For instance these trains tend to have dining cars which serve good food and you should be able to find plenty that you can eat. You will also have notified the tour operator in advance of your condition and your dietary requirements and, all things being equal, they will have been catered for.
Another advantage is that meals are also served at regular times so you know exactly where you are re injections and food.
There are also snack trolleys where you can buy drinks and snacks to ward of any hunger pangs or hypos.
If there is a dining car there will definitely be a fridge where you can keep your insulin.
You will have your own sleeping compartment, or at least one shared with only a few other people and so testing your Bg’s and giving yourself your injection should be no problem.
If there is a long period between stops remember to leave your compartment every now and again and walk up and down the aisle. This will keep your circulation working properly.
It is a good idea to let the conductor know you are diabetic, especially if you are travelling alone, so there is someone in the know in case of an emergency.
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