The Essential Diabetes Emergency Supply Kit for Travelers

I’ve had insulin go bad, pumps fail, and bags get lost. Each experience taught me something about what really needs to be in an emergency kit. This isn’t about packing everything. It’s about packing the right things so that any single failure won’t become a disaster.

Here’s my complete emergency supply kit, refined over years of travel.

The Core Principle

Your emergency kit should let you survive any single point of failure for at least 48-72 hours. Lost luggage, broken pump, failed CGM, spoiled insulin. Any one of these should be manageable with what you carry.

The Three-Bag System

I split my supplies across three locations:

Rule: Never put anything critical only in checked luggage.

Personal Item Emergency Kit

This stays with me at all times during travel. Small enough to fit in a day bag or jacket pocket.

Immediate Response Items

Why Each Item

Fast-acting glucose: Obvious. Hypos happen. Having glucose always accessible is non-negotiable.

Glucagon/Baqsimi: Severe hypos are rare but deadly. This is insurance you hope to never use.

Backup insulin pen: If my pump fails or luggage is lost, I can still dose. One pen gets me through 2-3 days minimum.

Meter and strips: If CGM fails, I need to test. A small backup meter dedicated to the emergency kit.

Carry-On Main Kit

This is my primary supply bag for travel days.

Insulin and Delivery

Monitoring

Storage and Organization

Medical Documentation Kit

Keep physical copies of:

I laminate important cards and keep digital copies as well.

Sick Day Kit

Illness happens. These items help you manage:

Technology Backup Kit

For pump and CGM users:

Written Backup Information

Keep a card with:

• Your total daily basal dose
• Your basal rate by hour (if on pump)
• Your correction factor
• Your carb ratio
• Your target blood sugar
• Long-acting insulin conversion (total basal = daily long-acting dose)

When technology fails, you need to know your numbers without looking them up.

Repair and Maintenance Kit

Climate-Specific Additions

Hot Climates

Cold Climates

High Humidity

Organization Systems

My Pouches

I use a color-coded pouch system:

This lets me find what I need quickly, even stressed or low.

Labeling

Label everything with:

• Contents
• Expiration dates
• Special instructions

When you’re hypoglycemic or stressed, clear labels help.

Quantities by Trip Length

Weekend Trip (2-3 days)

Week-Long Trip (5-7 days)

Extended Travel (1+ month)

Resupply Planning

For long trips, plan resupply points:

1. Know where you can buy supplies in your destinations
2. Identify reliable pharmacies with your insulin brands
3. Have supplies shipped if using a service like ours
4. Plan buffer time for shipping delays

Pre-Trip Checklist

Before every trip:

• All insulin within expiration date
• Insulin stored properly (not frozen, not overheated)
• Meter batteries fresh
• CGM transmitter has sufficient life remaining
• Pump supplies adequate
• Cooling case functional (FRIO tested)
• Prescriptions and letters current
• Emergency contacts updated
• Insurance card accessible
• Backup calculations written down

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Weight Considerations

My complete emergency kit weighs approximately:

It’s not light. It’s worth it.

Cost Considerations

Building an emergency kit isn’t cheap:

Expensive, but cheaper than an emergency abroad without supplies.

Why I Pack This Way Now

I used to be casual about backups. I figured if something went wrong, I’d figure it out. Then I had a pump failure in rural Indonesia with no backup long-acting insulin.

I spent 18 hours doing corrections every 2-3 hours with rapid-acting insulin because that’s all I had. My blood sugar swung wildly. I barely slept. It was one of the worst nights of my diabetes life.

The next day I found a pharmacy with Lantus. But those 18 hours taught me that “I’ll figure it out” is not a plan.

Now I pack like a paranoid person. Some people think I’m overprepared. Maybe. But I’ve never had another night like that one, and I plan to keep it that way.

Want reliable supply delivery to Southeast Asia? Join our waitlist and travel with confidence.