Julie Kiefer Talks About Traveling with Type 1 Diabetes

Hi, it's Paul Coker here from transform diabetes. And today I'm here with Judy Kier from the diabetes travel network, and I'm really excited to be here because Judy has some amazing stories. She's traveled the world many, many times over. She's lived in multiple countries with her diabetes, and she's here to share with us some tips about how to travel safely and well with your type one diabetes. So, hi, welcome. And thanks for joining us.

Julie Kiefer

Hi, Paul. Thanks for me.

Paul Coker

So you just tell, you know, that's, you are living in the UK, but that's not a British accent. So where are you from?

Julie Kiefer

I'm originally from France and in the UK for the past five years.

Paul Coker

Excellent. And your passion is traveling, is that right?

Julie Kiefer

Yes, that's correct.

Paul Coker

And so what parts of the world have you been to

Julie Kiefer

I've to a lot of it to

Paul Coker

Okay. What's your favourite place.

Julie Kiefer

I say my favourite is Colombia I, I was there for like two weeks and it was so mind blowing, you know, there were a lot of press about how dangerous the country was. And I really wanted to go by myself. Plus with my diabetes, it was kind of a challenge and it was lovely. Like people were so friendly. I didn't felt unsafe once. Like I was able to speak Spanish. The culture was amazing and the food was great. I truly, you really touch my heart in a different way. Like, as you say, I've been all around the world and this is the one that really at the moment is my favorite.

Paul Coker

And you've lived in other countries as well. Haven't you? You grew up in France, you're living here in the UK . Where else have you Lived?

Julie Kiefer

I lived in Australia. I spent one month in Bali and yeah, at the UK.

Paul Coker

So I, I think it's fair to say that you are really well traveled.

Julie Kiefer

I think so.

Paul Coker

So would you like to give us an introduction of the diabetic? Sorry. Is it the diabetic travel network?

Julie Kiefer

Yes.

Paul Coker

So would you like to give us an introduction to the diabetic travel network and yes. And what you do?

Julie Kiefer

Of course. So it is a social impact organization that help people with diabetes to travel with ease and confidence by providing education, coaching, help to treat preparation and community support. I created the DTN. I think it was in 2019 just after a trip because I felt a need from the community for more information about how to travel. But most importantly, for connection with other people that really have diabetes and are also traveling around because when you go on a trip or you even wanna go a whole trip or move country is already stressful having diabetes to the mix, it can really be anxiety. And lot people actually don't even think it's possible. So our mission is truly to make people see that one they can and help them so they can do it safely.

Paul Coker

And I think one of the things that I see a lot on social media being talked about is going through the airport with all of your insulin and your syringes. So would you have any tips on to do that?

Julie Kiefer

Yeah, definitely. So the first thing is like to plan in advance and what I do is I put all my supplies in the same bag, right? I have a mini cooler in which I leave the insulin in there. And every single with you in the plane, you don't want to put insulin in all of the plane because I can be degradated. So you keep all of it with you. And when we go through the scanner, so basically most TGM and per they can go through the metal detector, but then the xray scanner they can. So before going into the xray, you can request the pad down. And I think what's helpful when going square forth is to tell the security of front, your have diabetes, there is supplies in your bag. So that proven them to like question you. And I also recommend people to take a letter from their doctor because it doesn't often, but if they take your and they request to see that would allow you to take the plane basically.

Paul Coker

Yeah. So I, I think that's really, really helpful. So what, what about your experiences of traveling? What what's the most difficult country that you've ever been to, or, or traveled through with your diabetes supplies?

Julie Kiefer

I think the first time I went to travel, I, I was about to go for six months, sleep in Australia. And so I went to the airport and I had ice pack in my, with my six month supply. I took everything with me in once and security stopped me and they didn't want me to take the ice pack because the type of that I had was not approved. And it couldn't go on the plane and to be with you, I literally panic. I was like, what am I going is at the temperature? Like the trip was. So I really was worried in Australia having so like the, the, yeah, we, fortunately I realized that insulin is way more resistant than I thought. And drastic change of temperature are more of a problem because despite the fact that they haven't had the ice back close to them for 20 hours, they were still fine. And I still use them for the next six months.

Paul Coker

Yeah. I mean, this is not medical advice, but for me personally, the way that I think about insulin is it's best kept in the fridge, but the place that it operates and works is inside my body and in my body, it's 37 degrees. So if it's, we don't want to getting up to 37 degrees because of course, then it's going to be active and it's going to denature. But if we are less than that, we're probably okay for most of the time.

Julie Kiefer

Yeah. Again, this is not medical advice, of course, but this is from personal experience. And that was a very stressful time for me because, well, if I had been there and nothing worked, I would've probably have to pay for it or find the insurance that would've been a lot of trouble.

Paul Coker

So if people want to know more about the diabetic travel network, how can they get in touch with you?

Julie Kiefer

They can gain that. Definitely on Instagram is diabetic travel network. So on Instagram we also have a Facebook group and directly on the website, diabetic travelers, network.com

Paul Coker

And, and you're building a community of people with diabetes who are traveling, is that right?

Julie Kiefer

Yes, exactly. We have people from all around the world to be honest, it's a 3000 plus active member community. And it's amazing because you know, definitely where you in world, you can see that people really face the same, this community. We live a better life,

Paul Coker

So impressed. And again, I don't think this is part of your service, but I'd rather suspect that if somebody is a member of your network and they're in a country and they put a message up there, they might just be able to get some help from somebody else living there or that's had experience with that country.

Julie Kiefer

Definitely. And that's also why I created it is to have in countries report, because sometimes you go somewhere, you don't know anyone, you don't know how the healthcare work and within our community, you have people that are actually there, understand how it works and are able to explain it to you.

Paul Coker

You know, there are so many times in my life where that would've been so useful for me. I'm going to share a little story of my own here. And my parents live in Spain. And about 10 years ago, I, my, my wife and my children had gone to Spain for the entire summer and I was working. So I went with them when they went out at the beginning of the summer. And basically he carried the bags for them. I stayed with them all for a few days. And then I came home in the middle of the ho of their holiday. I went out for a long weekend. And the night before I was due to flight to Spain, my father phoned me and he said, my laptop has died. And my parents live in the middle of nowhere. Can you go and pick one up for me and bring it out when you come tomorrow?

Paul Coker

And I was only traveling with hand luggage. So I thought, yeah, it's okay. And I went to the shops and I purchased a laptop. And then I realized I can't fit my, my own things in my bag because I've got to carry a laptop. What can I strip out? And I looked at my supplies and I went it's okay. I was out with mum and dad a few weeks ago and I left a load of insulin pump supplies. There don't need these. So I took them, flew to Spain. Then when I Spain, any insulin pump supplies in Spain.

And at the time I was with, I was using a Medtronic pump. So I phoned Medtronic in the UK and Medtronic said, yeah, you, you are our customer. And we would normally help you, but you're in Spain, you've phone, Medtronic, Spain. So I phoned Medtronic, Spain, and they didn't speak English and I don't speak Spanish. And after couple of hours of trying to understand and be understood, we managed to get some supplies, but unlike the UK, because I was not a customer of Medtronic, Spain, I had to pay for them. And I think that in that situation, if I had of had a contact locally in Spain, that was used a Medtronic system, I may have been able to reach out and say, can you help me out with a couple of sets while I'm here for a few days? And I'll you some

Julie Kiefer

I have forgotten my insulin on one trip, but because I always take a copy of prescription with me I was able to go to the pharmacy and they were able to give me a pack, but I had to pay for,

Paul Coker

And again, that's just another really great piece of advice. But beware that you are taking a prescription that is in date and valid.

Julie Kiefer

If they don't have the insulin that you need in the country helps them to find a similar product for you.

Paul Coker

Yeah. So are there any other quick tips that you would give to people other than to come along and join your network? Of course,

Julie Kiefer

I would say to them, like, what do you relax? Get purpose, organisation is key when traveling with diabetes so make sure you have all the supplies that you need, plan your trip in advance, and then bring snacks and anything in case you go low and yeah, do it.

If you don't do it now, you will never do it.

And diabetes, a reason to prevent you really help me once you arrive in the country, whether there is jet lag or not, whether there is tips to manage that, but really get yourself in on your routine for a couple of days, just to wait for your blood sugar to really come back on track. So that's important. You want to really reup to the new time zone and the new wisdom of the country you are getting in. So you can enjoy your trip and not have to deal with your blood sugar all the way.

Paul Coker

Yeah. And I think that time zones are important. I think the other thing that I have found from my own personal experience of traveling is that changes in temperature change my insulin sensitivity too. So, it's worth bearing in mind that for the first couple of days, while you're settling into that new temperature and that new rhythm, you are going to need a little bit more time and perhaps pay a little bit more attention, even though you may not want to. And you're on holiday

Julie Kiefer

Definitely. But it's worth to do it at the beginning. So you don't have to care about it later on much.

Paul Coker

So thank you, Julie. I think what your mission is absolutely fantastic. So I'm going to share your, your website which is https://www.diabetictravelersnetwork.com/ and your Facebook group can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/429604381031663.

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us,  the more people that we can help and share this with the better, I think,

Julie Kiefer

 I agree with you. Like, this is all about helping each other and like, you know, raising over. So thank you so, so much, like for, for your work and for helping me, it's a real enough to be here today.

Paul Coker

And, and thank you. I think that you've got a really great mission here and I'm fully supportive.

Julie Kiefer

Thank you.