Emergency Resources
Travel emergencies can be stressful, especially when diabetes, medications, or essential supplies are involved. This page is designed to help you quickly find the right resources when something goes wrong away from home.
Whether you need medical care, have lost insulin or diabetes supplies, experience a device failure, become sick, or need help while traveling internationally, use the sections below to find your next step.
If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, contact the local emergency services for your current location immediately. Do not delay emergency care while searching this page for information.
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If you are experiencing a serious medical emergency, contact the emergency services for the country you are currently in.
Emergency telephone numbers are not the same worldwide. Before international travel, save the emergency number for your destination in your phone.
If you are unsure whether a situation requires emergency care, seek professional medical assistance rather than relying solely on information found online.
When possible, have the following information available:
Your location
Your medical condition
Medications you take
Known allergies
Emergency contact
Travel insurance information -
If you need medical attention while traveling, several resources may help you locate appropriate care.
Your Travel Insurance Provider
Many travel insurance companies provide 24-hour assistance services that can help locate nearby hospitals or doctors and explain your coverage.
Your Health Insurance Provider
Contact your regular insurer to determine what care may be covered at your destination.
Hotel or Accommodation Staff
Hotels can often help identify nearby hospitals, urgent care facilities, pharmacies, or appropriate local medical services.
U.S. Embassy or Consulate
For Americans traveling internationally, the U.S. Department of State provides information about medical assistance abroad and can help travelers locate medical services. However, the U.S. government generally does not pay travelers’ medical expenses.
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If your insulin is lost, stolen, damaged, or unavailable, don't wait until you are completely out to start looking for help.
Insulin names, concentrations, formulations, packaging, and prescription requirements can differ between countries. A product sold under a familiar brand name may not necessarily be identical to what you normally use.
Contact:
A local pharmacy
Your healthcare provider
Your insulin manufacturer
Your travel or health insurance assistance service
A local diabetes organization
If you need replacement insulin, confirm the exact medication and instructions with a qualified healthcare professional or pharmacist rather than attempting to substitute insulin products on your own.
If lack of insulin is causing dangerously high glucose, ketones, vomiting, difficulty breathing, confusion, severe dehydration, or other concerning symptoms, seek urgent medical care.
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Losing diabetes supplies can feel overwhelming, but start by identifying what you need immediately and what you can replace later.
Contact your device manufacturer if you need assistance locating compatible CGM, pump, or other diabetes supplies.
You can also contact:
Local pharmacies
Your healthcare provider
Your insurance company
Your device manufacturer
Local diabetes organizations
Your travel insurance provider
If an airline lost luggage containing your supplies, report the missing baggage immediately. However, do not wait for the airline to recover your luggage if you need essential medication or supplies sooner.
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If your insulin pump stops delivering insulin, follow the backup plan your diabetes healthcare team provided and the instructions from your pump manufacturer.
Contact your pump manufacturer’s technical support as soon as possible.
Do not attempt to guess replacement insulin doses or recreate a backup regimen from information found online.
This is why having a predetermined backup insulin plan and carrying an alternative method of insulin delivery can be extremely important when traveling.
Manufacturer Support
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A failed CGM does not necessarily mean you have lost the ability to monitor your glucose.
If your sensor fails, follow the manufacturer’s troubleshooting instructions and contact the manufacturer if necessary.
If you normally rely on your CGM, having a compatible blood glucose meter and adequate testing supplies provides an important backup when traveling.
CGM Support
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Follow the hypoglycemia treatment plan provided by your healthcare team.
If you are conscious and able to safely treat yourself, use the fast acting carbohydrate strategy recommended by your healthcare provider.
Severe hypoglycemia can require assistance from another person, glucagon, or emergency medical care.
Travel companions should know where your emergency glucose treatments and glucagon are located and how to access them.
If someone is unconscious, having a seizure, unable to safely swallow, or otherwise experiencing a medical emergency, contact local emergency services immediately.
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Follow the high glucose and ketone management instructions provided by your diabetes healthcare team.
If you use an insulin pump, unexplained high glucose can potentially indicate an insulin delivery problem.
Monitor for warning signs that require urgent medical attention, particularly vomiting, difficulty breathing, confusion, inability to keep fluids down, worsening ketones, or symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis.
When traveling, do not postpone seeking medical attention simply because you are unfamiliar with the local healthcare system.
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Illness can affect glucose levels, hydration, insulin needs, appetite, and your ability to follow your normal routine.
Follow the sick day plan established with your healthcare team. Continue monitoring glucose and ketones as instructed and pay attention to hydration.
Seek medical care when your symptoms meet the emergency or urgent care criteria your healthcare team has given you.
If you cannot keep fluids down, develop concerning ketones, experience difficulty breathing, become confused, or have other severe symptoms, seek urgent medical assistance.
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Start with a local pharmacy.
Bring or show as much information as possible about the medication, including:
Medication name
Generic name
Dosage
Strength
Prescription information
Photo of the original packaging, if availablePrescription laws differ by country, so a medication available over the counter at home may require a prescription elsewhere, and vice versa.
Your healthcare provider, insurer, travel assistance provider, embassy, or consulate may also be able to help you determine your options.
Do not purchase prescription medications from questionable websites, street vendors, or unverified sources.
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For U.S. citizens abroad, the U.S. Department of State and local U.S. embassies and consulates can assist with certain emergencies.
Consular assistance may be useful for situations involving:
Lost or stolen passports
Crime
Arrest or detention
Serious illness or injury
Natural disasters
Major emergencies
Death of a traveler
Consular officials can provide information and help connect travelers with appropriate local resources, although they generally cannot pay medical bills or provide medical treatment.
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Contact your country’s embassy or consulate in the destination you are visiting. Your country’s foreign affairs or foreign ministry website can usually help you locate the nearest diplomatic mission.
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If you need diabetes specific support while abroad, a local diabetes organization may be able to help you understand resources available within that country.
The International Diabetes Federation maintains a global network of national diabetes organizations.
Create Your Emergency Information Before You Travel
Before traveling, save important information somewhere you can access it even without an internet connection.
Medical Information
✓ Diabetes type
✓ Medications and dosages
✓ Insulin information
✓ Pump and CGM information
✓ Allergies
✓ Other medical conditions
Important Contacts
✓ Healthcare provider
✓ Emergency contact
✓ Insurance provider
✓ Travel insurance assistance
✓ Pump manufacturer
✓ CGM manufacturer
Destination Information
✓ Local emergency number
✓ Nearby hospital
✓ Nearby pharmacy
✓ Embassy or consulate
✓ Travel insurance assistance number
Consider keeping this information both digitally and offline.
When Something Goes Wrong
An emergency can make an unfamiliar destination suddenly feel much farther from home. Focus on the problem in front of you and use the resources available around you.
Know when you need professional medical care. Contact your healthcare or device providers when appropriate. Use your backup supplies and plans. Ask for help when you need it.
Preparing for emergencies does not mean expecting your trip to go wrong. It means giving yourself more options if something does.