Whether you work outside of the home, are on vacation, or are going to a restaurant for dinner, these simple guidelines will help you keep your blood sugar under control.

1. Monitor glucose levels more often if you deviate from your diabetes care plan. For example, if you eat foods that you don't regularly include in your diet and/or you eat at a different time than usual, you can benefit from checking glucose levels more often.
2. For example, if you eat foods that you don't regularly include in your diet and/or you eat at a different time than usual, you can benefit from checking glucose levels more often.
3. Keep all diabetes care supplies with you in a purse, carry-on bag, backpack, or "fanny pack."
4. Pack your supplies in a temperature-controlled pack when you're outside or even in a closed car.
5. Pack extra medication and blood sugar monitoring supplies when planning a trip away from home. This helps you stay in control during unexpected delays.
6. Pack extra batteries for your glucose monitor.
7. Carry a card or wear a bracelet identifying yourself as a person with diabetes.
8. To treat low blood sugar, bring food that gives the body glucose quickly, such as 1/2 cup of fruit juice or five to six pieces of hard candy.
9. Ask your health care provider for new prescriptions for all diabetes supplies and medications when traveling, in case you need to get a refill.
10. Time your insulin to the situation.
11. When eating away from home, wait until you see the food before injecting. This helps avoid low blood sugar when meals are delayed (i.e., in a restaurant, on a long car trip, at a friend's home, or in an airplane).

Help Away From Home
When leaving the country, go to www.idf.org for a list of International Diabetes Federations. To find English-speaking health care providers in foreign countries, go to www.iamat.org. You can contact the American Embassy if you need medical help away from home.