Pune: An incident in a Noida theatre brought into focus a reality that people with Type 1 diabetes live. A woman alleged that a security guard stopped her from carrying an emergency kit she needs to treat a sudden drop in blood sugar, usually containing glucose tablets and juice. She was told to leave the items outside.She added that a manager told her that people with her condition should not come to watch movies. The cinema chain later responded to the incident, but the episode points to a larger problem: For people with Type 1 diabetes, even an ordinary outing can require careful planning around food, insulin and the possibility of an emergency.Travel magnifies these calculations. Airports, delayed meals, long queues, unfamiliar kitchens, changing time zones and the constant arithmetic of insulin and blood sugar become part of the invisible itinerary. A missed snack or an unexpected delay can quickly spiral into an emergency. What most travellers can treat as minor inconveniences can require careful intervention for someone whose blood sugar can fall dangerously low or rise sharply.Yet across India, people with Type 1 diabetes are slowly reclaiming travel, building communities and support systems that make wanderlust feel less intimidating.One such group gathered for breakfast on their first trip to Jim Corbett National Park last April. The air was thick with the scent of buttery aloo parathas. Subhi Kapoor from Faridabad, diagnosed at 16 and long barred from solo adventures by fearful parents, tucked in without hesitation.“All of us ate. Normally, when diabetics eat parathas, people immediately try to stop them. But at that moment, it felt like we were not the different ones,” she said. During a safari, several members of the group simultaneously felt their sugar levels crashing. Boxes of a sweetened drink were passed around. For Kapoor, the ease of that moment washed away years of fear, restriction and overprotection.Before this, travelling alone had felt impossible. Kapoor said many of them were never allowed to travel alone. “These travel groups offer logistical safety and emotional permission to move through the world again, to swap worst-case scenarios and lived realities across breakfast tables, and to feel, if only briefly, unburdened by the constant calculation we have to do,” Kapoor said.Delhi-based Anurati Aggarwal floated the idea of a Type 1 diabetes group trip. Eighteen strangers from across India signed up for the first trip to Jim Corbett, many flying solo for the first time. Since then, six trips have followed, including Goa, Bir and Sri Lanka. Participants have gone kayaking, whale watching and even paragliding, activities many had previously written off as too risky.Aggarwal said, “With a little extra planning, carrying the right supplies and being mindful of your body, living with Type 1 diabetes should never stop you from exploring the world.” These trips become spaces where people test the edges of what they thought was impossible. It is less about adrenaline and more about reclaiming agency, she added.In Goa, a participant who was terrified of water stepped into the sea. Another kayaked despite years of hesitation. Later, she messaged the group saying it was her first solo trip, first beach immersion and the first time not feeling like a burden.In Sri Lanka, a participant who struggled with depression and seasickness still chose to go whale watching. “Being surrounded by people who also live with Type 1 diabetes gave them the confidence to push their limits. The shared understanding turns what is often a solitary burden into a collective rhythm,” Aggarwal said.But behind every successful trip lies an exhausting amount of preparation. “Whenever you travel with diabetes, you have to back yourself up with the necessary equipment because something can always go wrong,” said Roshan Poncha, a theatre artist from Chennai who has lived with Type 1 diabetes for decades.Poncha has been using an insulin pump for over 20 years. “It gave me flexibility with food and lifestyle, but it also meant more planning. Initially, I resisted switching to a pump. I was fashion conscious and kept wondering how I would wear my clothes with it attached to me. My insulin routine was working fine, so even my doctor let me take my time. But when I wanted to conceive, my priorities changed. I adapted to the pump and now I cannot imagine life without it, even though it comes at quite a cost,” she said.Continuous Glucose Monitors, or CGMs, cost Rs 4,000 and upwards that last for a maximum of 15 days, while insulin pumps can cost nearly Rs 5 lakh, excluding recurring expenses for sensors, tubing and accessories.Poncha describes travel preparation as almost military in nature. “Insulin is important but there are other things you need to carry too. I separate supplies into different bags and even put some in everyone else’s luggage while travelling. I carry extra testing strips, spare CGM sensors, chargers, batteries, swabs, gauze, everything. Half my bag goes into diabetes management,” she said.She recalled attending a concert in Germany attended by nearly one lakh people when she suddenly realised her pump patch needed changing, and the loos were not clean. “Luckily, I had carried a spare and managed it quickly,” she said.The emotional labour can be just as exhausting as the physical preparation. “People stare when a young woman walks into a disabled toilet or takes an insulin shot in public. Over the years, I have learned to ignore the judgement and carry on,” Poncha said.Airport security remains another recurring source of stress. “Some places are wonderful. In Qatar, security handled everything sensitively when I explained I could not go through certain scanners because of my devices. At the US embassy too, they prioritised me. But I have also been hassled for carrying insulin and treated with suspicion at an airport in Australia because I had not declared it separately. A little awareness and empathy can make a huge difference,” said Poncha.Burzin Mistry, a 36-year-old project manager from Mumbai who handles exhibitions and events, echoed similar frustrations. Misdiagnosed initially with Type 2 diabetes, a C peptide test eventually confirmed he had Type 1 diabetes at the age of 33.“Living with Type 1 diabetes is expensive. There should be some provision or subsidy for people who genuinely depend on CGMs and insulin for survival. Many people today wear CGMs as part of a fitness trend, but for us, it is literally a life saving device,” he said.Food becomes a big challenge while travelling. “Everything available is carb heavy. Even snacks that claim to be diabetic friendly are exposed to be sugary when you read the label. Breakfast buffets at hotels are especially difficult because it is all poha, idlis, medu vada and other carb-loaded dishes. Even when ordering biryani, I eat very little rice and more meat. If I order a burger, I remove half the bread. Late at night, when I need food after work, mostly junk food places are open. I make the best choices possible and improvise,” Mistry added.Because his work involves setting up large exhibitions and site visits, Mistry often walks 20,000 to 22,000 steps a day, which helps regulate his blood sugar. “I plan my meals around how active I am going to be that day. When I know there is less activity, I end up eating salads,” he said.Public awareness about diabetes devices remains alarmingly poor. “At Amritsar airport, I was wearing a CGM and the security officer tried to remove it. Another time, I placed my insulin pens separately on the tray during security screening and the officer picked them up and threw them into the bin,” Mistry said.Medical professionals say careful planning is critical. Dr Uday Phadke, director of endocrinology and diabetes at Sahyadri Super Specialty Hospital in Pune, said people without advanced devices can travel safely with regular monitoring and preparation.“A glucometer remains a more affordable alternative if used frequently. Blood sugar should ideally be checked several times a day, especially while travelling,” he said.Phadke warned about time-zone changes disrupting insulin schedules. “When travelling across time zones, insulin doses may need adjustment depending on whether you are travelling eastward or westward. People should stay hydrated, monitor sugar levels every three to four hours during long flights and consult their doctors before travelling.”Radhakant Padhi, HAG Professor and HAL Chair Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, who led the development of an artificial pancreas system in 2022, said CGMs and insulin pumps have transformed travel but are too expensive.For people living with Type 1 diabetes, travel can be made significantly easier with the use of CGMs and insulin pumps, provided the pump is properly loaded and ready for use, he said, adding that insulin must always be stored carefully. “Insulin should never be frozen. If it is accidentally kept in the freezer, it must be discarded because freezing de-natures the protein and makes it ineffective,” said Padhi.Poncha requests hotel staff to let her keep her insulin in their fridge, explaining details of her condition. Kapoor said that she always books her stay near a hospital.BOX:How To PrepareStart with documentation and essentials: Always carry prescriptions, a doctor’s note, and details of your insulin regimen. Keep insulin in both cabin and checked baggage, and use proper storage like cooling pouches or insulated cases to protect it from heat. Never expose insulin to freezing temperatures, as it becomes ineffective. Alongside this, pack more supplies than you think you will need, including extra insulin, sensors, strips, and batteries.Build an efficient emergency kit: Carry fast-acting glucose like juice, glucose powder, or tablets for sudden lows, and electrolytes for recovery. A glucagon injection can be life-saving in severe situations. Ketone strips are useful if blood sugar remains high for long durations. Many travellers also carry a small “hypo kit” that is easily accessible at all times.Plan your stay and route carefully: Choose accommodations near hospitals or pharmacies, and research medical access in advance, especially in remote areas. Inform travel companions, guides, or even hotel staff about your condition and what to do in case of an emergency. Wearing a medical ID or badge can also help in unfamiliar environments.Be mindful of food and timing: Prioritise balanced meals with protein and lower carbohydrates where possible, and avoid long gaps between meals. Try to ensure at least two reliable meals a day. Carry snacks at all times in case of delays. Hydration and stress management are equally important, as both directly affect blood sugar levels.Monitor consistently and adjust: Check blood sugar every few hours, especially during long journeys. When travelling across time zones, consult a doctor in advance to adjust insulin doses, follow your home time zone while in transit, and switch to the local schedule after landing.Communicate, overpack and over-prepare: Tell people around you about your condition, do not hesitate to ask for help, and plan for worst-case scenarios so you can travel with ease. As many of the travellers emphasise, the goal is not to eliminate uncertainty, but to be ready for it, sotri that diabetes becomes something you manage along the way, not something that stops you from going.
