Seeing our vast country by road is the dream of many Australians, but for those with health conditions such as diabetes, some forward planning is essential. Here’s what you need to know about getting ready for a long-distance or long-duration journey.  

It’s a retirement dream of many to see Australia by road. Families, too, will often opt for a road trip over an overseas holiday, with the travel industry seeing more younger families taking camping trips, often with extended family. Tourism is an important contributor to the regional economy, with local businesses benefiting from passing tourists.  

But while any road trip requires a bit of planning, for those living with a chronic condition such as diabetes, preparing for a long voyage can be a complicated exercise. This is something that travellers – particularly the booming grey nomads movement – can overlook. Essential medications and equipment, such as insulin pump consumables, aren’t always easy to access in regional areas. Likewise, when health issues arise, road trippers can struggle to find the support they need. 

Road trips with diabetes 

Dr Anita De Bellis from Flinders’ College of Nursing and Health Sciences, says that older Australians embarking on caravanning holidays – those aforementioned “grey nomads” – need to be well prepared to manage their condition. In her research, she’s found that expired prescriptions and referrals, alongside difficulties with sourcing specialised equipment, can pose challenges for both travellers and the health care providers in remote and regional communities who look after them. When GPs or hospitals aren’t near at hand, pharmacists often end up filling the gap.  

“People hit the road without prescriptions for their diabetes medication, or they don’t have spare batteries for their glucometers, or their insulin pen breaks down and they can’t get a replacement,” Anita says.   

“This can sometimes mean people have to resort to travelling long distances to emergency departments.” 

Of course, just being behind the wheel for those long distances can be an added hazard for people living with diabetes. 

“If someone gets a complication such as hypoglycaemia while driving – and if you’re travelling around Australia, you spend a lot of time driving – it can be quite dangerous.” 

Another reason grey nomads – and other travellers – often run into trouble on the road is that regular routines often go out the window when people go on holidays. 

“People think, ‘I’m on holiday, so I don’t have to do all the usual things. And, of course, they’re not exercising in their cars and it’s hard to eat well on the road, so there’s a change in exercise, diet, all sorts of things.” 

While those who have lived for a long time with a condition such as type 1 diabetes tend to be better prepared, Anita says those with a relatively new diagnosis may be more likely to let management routines slip and may not realise the importance of being armed with an up-to-date care plan. 

“Sometimes they don’t have any written documentation or contact with a diabetes educator. They don’t have a plan or a health record.” 

A pre-travel diabetes checklist can make travelling easier for people with diabetes. But doing the necessary planning is easier said than done, as there’s no guidebook to caravanning around Australia with a chronic condition – and no easy way of finding out what supplies or support might be available. 

“There isn’t a whole lot of information available for travelling around Australia, which has such specific issues, just by virtue of the distances you’re covering and how small some of these towns are,” says Anita.  

Another thing that can help is the Diabetes WA Helpline, which allows people travelling around our state to get free support from a credentialled diabetes educator. Deborah Schofield, general manager of health for Diabetes WA, says the helpline service means West Australians on the road needn’t feel alone. 

“The reality is that diabetes is a complex condition to manage, and problems can arise, even when people are well-prepared,” Deborah says. 

“Our helpline means that people anywhere in Western Australia can speak to an educator about any issues they might have, and we’ll be able to work with them to find the best option.” 

Diabetes WA also offer a Telehealth Service for Country WA, which provides free clinical appointments for people living in rural and remote regions of WA.    

“Diabetes can be an unpredictable condition to manage. Travel adds to that complexity, especially when you need to purchase medications or diabetes technology consumables, some of which must be specially ordered in by the local pharmacy. Being able to talk to a diabetes educator or planning ahead with your GP before you travel can relieve some of the stress when you’re on the road.”

Anita says services such as telehealth are essential, but she would also like to see more investment from governments in regional health services and, ideally, a central register for prescriptions so that pharmacists in remote locations can dispense vital medications when a traveller has lost – or gone travelling without – their script. 

At the end of the day though, Anita says the best way for people with diabetes to prepare for a long journey is to think carefully about their own unique needs. 

“Know your diabetes, know your condition and how to manage yourself. Be prepared. Have contingency plans. Make sure you’ve got your prescriptions, your medications, your equipment spares, and try to keep your exercise and diet in check.” 

Your Road Trip Checklist 

Before you travel 

• Check in with your GP and diabetes educator and have a care plan outlining your medications that you can show to any health care providers, if necessary. It can also be useful to take a sick day management plan with you, so you have something to follow if you are unwell or you are experiencing high glucose levels that are hard to manage.
  
• Discuss with your healthcare team about options for Telehealth appointments while you are on the road, should you need support.
  
• Stock up on diabetes supplies including NDSS items and spare meters and other devices and batteries, as well as other health-monitoring equipment.
  
• Stock up on medications before you go, just in case local pharmacists don’t have supplies. Your doctor can provide you with a Regulation 24 prescription that allows you to fill all repeats at once to bring all your medications with you. Keep in mind, too, that prescriptions are only valid for 12 months, so check expiry dates on any unfilled prescriptions to avoid having to get new ones from a GP while away.
  
• Your pharmacist can also put your medication into a Webster-pak, which is a sealed and dated blister pack that makes it easier to keep track of different medications and ensure you’re taking the correct dose at the right time and have enough with you for the whole trip. These aren’t just for the elderly, they are also recommended for travellers, children on regular medication, those taking supplements along with medicine or anyone looking for a convenient storage solution.
  
• Ensure you have somewhere safe to store your medication, along with a letter from your GP outlining what you are taking. If you are using insulin or other injectable medications, you will need to ensure they are stored in the fridge. 
• Consider registering with My Health Record, which allows health care providers to access your records online, anywhere in Australia.  

On the road 

• Stock up on fresh fruit and veg in larger centres.   
• Remember to regularly monitor your glucose levels, particularly around driving or if you feel unwell.
• Aim for around 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day, most days. Some campgrounds have swimming pools, and larger regional centres may have an aquatic centre you can visit. Also keep an eye out for scenic walking trails, often listed on local government websites or at tourist offices
• Don’t forget, you can always check in with Diabetes WA while on the road from anywhere in Australia for advice on 1300 001 880. 

This article is from our Summer issue – download here.