Manage your diabetes on the road.

If you have a chronic health condition but love to travel, there are ways to cut down on your stress.

Davida Kruger, author of "The Diabetes Travel Guide," offers these tips for diabetics:

_ Know what your health insurance will cover and how it works at your destination. Wear a medical identification bracelet, and carry a letter from your doctor outlining your condition and treatment. Don't forget to list allergies.

_ Take twice as many of your diabetic supplies as you need in case of an emergency such as flight delays or lost luggage.

_ Keep your diabetic supplies with you at all times. Don't pack them in checked luggage. Also keep the letter from your doctor with you to help ease your way through security checkpoints.

_ Pack snacks in case you are forced to miss a meal because of travel delays.

_ If you're traveling over multiple time zones, check with your doctor to see if you need to alter your medication schedule.

Arthritis also requires some pre-trip planning:

_ When booking a flight, ask for a seat with extra legroom.

_ Reserve a handicapped-access room at your hotel or one close to the elevator.

_ If you have medications that need to be kept cool, ask flight attendants to refrigerate them during your flight. When making lodging reservations, book a room that has a refrigerator.

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ONLINE:

American Diabetes Association: www.diabetes.org

Arthritis Foundation: www.arthritis.org

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SOURCE: Abbott Laboratories

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Edited and compiled by Phyllis Stone.

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Visit the Star-Telegram on the World Wide Web: www.star-telegram.com.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

_____

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Items in the News2Use package are not included in your KRT News Service subscription. You can subscribe to the News2Use package or purchase the items a la carte on KRT Direct at www.krtdirect.com. To subscribe, please call Rick DeChantal at Tribune Media Services at (800) 245-6536 or rdechantal@tribune.com. Outside the United States, call Tribune Media Services International at +1-213-237-7987 or e-mail tmsi@tribune.com.

_____

ILLUSTRATION (from KRT Photo Service, 202-383-6099).

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

(c) 2004, Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Manage your diabetes on the road.

If you have a chronic health condition but love to travel, there are ways to cut down on your stress.

Davida Kruger, author of "The Diabetes Travel Guide," offers these tips for diabetics:

_ Know what your health insurance will cover and how it works at your destination. Wear a medical identification bracelet, and carry a letter from your doctor outlining your condition and treatment. Don't forget to list allergies.

_ Take twice as many of your diabetic supplies as you need in case of an emergency such as flight delays or lost luggage.

_ Keep your diabetic supplies with you at all times. Don't pack them in checked luggage. Also keep the letter from your doctor with you to help ease your way through security checkpoints.

_ Pack snacks in case you are forced to miss a meal because of travel delays.

_ If you're traveling over multiple time zones, check with your doctor to see if you need to alter your medication schedule.

Arthritis also requires some pre-trip planning:

_ When booking a flight, ask for a seat with extra legroom.

_ Reserve a handicapped-access room at your hotel or one close to the elevator.

_ If you have medications that need to be kept cool, ask flight attendants to refrigerate them during your flight. When making lodging reservations, book a room that has a refrigerator.

___

ONLINE:

American Diabetes Association: www.diabetes.org

Arthritis Foundation: www.arthritis.org

___

SOURCE: Abbott Laboratories

___

Edited and compiled by Phyllis Stone.

___

Visit the Star-Telegram on the World Wide Web: www.star-telegram.com.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

_____

TO SUBSCRIBE TO NEWS2USE

Items in the News2Use package are not included in your KRT News Service subscription. You can subscribe to the News2Use package or purchase the items a la carte on KRT Direct at www.krtdirect.com. To subscribe, please call Rick DeChantal at Tribune Media Services at (800) 245-6536 or rdechantal@tribune.com. Outside the United States, call Tribune Media Services International at +1-213-237-7987 or e-mail tmsi@tribune.com.

_____

ILLUSTRATION (from KRT Photo Service, 202-383-6099).

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

(c) 2004, Fort Worth Star-Telegram.