As per my previous blog post you will know I have been in America for the month of November. While I was there I caught up with the man himself, Ami James. We talked tattoos, (I got tattooed) Australia, Got Insulin and we talked Type 1 Diabetes. Ami told me some of his experiences with watching his long-time friend and co-attendee of Got Insulin Inaugural Charity Ball, Darren Brass and his T1D. Now I've had T1D for 16 years. I thought I had seen and heard it all. I was wrong. I was shocked, left speechless by some of the stories Ami shared with me. 
I can only hope that by creating Got Insulin and holding events like this we can raise awareness for what can happen to you if you have T1D. Not only what can happen to you, but how it affects your family and friends. You will hear some of these stories at the Got Insulin Inaugural Charity Ball. Parts will shock you. Some of it is hard to hear. It was hard for me to listen to without getting emotional. But it is the reality.
So if you have T1D, Type 2 Diabetes, Gestational Diabetes, know someone who does, or don't know much about it but want to learn. And of course get dressed up, have an amazing meal and hang with some pretty cool people... Then get along to Got Insulin Inaugural Charity Ball on Friday March 7th at the Stamford Grand.
Tickets are available at Venue Tix Kiosks/Counters or online here.

Got Insulin Inaugural Charity Ball presented by the Stamford Grand.
A black-tie ball with special guests Ami James of Miami and New York Ink and Darren Brass of Miami Ink..

Standard Ticket: $120
Table of 10: $1000
Includes
Entry
Canapes
Welcome drinks
3 course meal, entree, main, dessert
Beverages - premium wine, beer and soft drink
Entry into door prize raffle

Ball + After Party Ticket: $150
Table of 10: $1300
Includes
Entry to after party from 11:45pm
Canapes
Welcome drinks
3 course meal, entree, main, dessert
Beverages - premium wine, beer and soft drink
Entry into door prize raffle
Access to private VIP after party and drink specials.
*tickets are limited

As some of you may know, I have spent the past month in America.. That's 4 different time zones and 6 injections a day. 
Complicated?! Well, it was the first time, I feel like I've almost mastered it now. Travelling locally with Type 1 Diabetes is hard.. Travelling overseas is even harder. I have managed to control my T1D quite well over the 4 time zones I visited this past month. Some helpful hints for fellow travelling Diabetics who are still old school like me and use pens or syringes. .

• *Don't skip injections. This obviously is a big no no. But is also easy to do while you are on long haul flights or struggling with jet lag. 
  

My solution to this was fairly simple.. When I am home in Adelaide, I inject when I wake up and when I have dinner. The time between these 2 injections can vary from 8 hours - 15 hours. I adjust my dose accordingly. When I travel to the USA, I do my first injection at 10am where ever I am. Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide. I note that in my phone and I2 hours later I will do my second long acting injection. 

• *Short acting continue as normal.. Inject when you eat or when needed. 
  

The first time I travelled overseas I tried to sync my injections with the time zone I was in. This was really hard to do and caused me way more drama then I needed. I learnt the hard way.
Even if I'm struggling with jet-lag... Wake up at 12pm - inject. Still up at 12am - inject. 
Wake up at 9am - inject. 9pm - inject. 12 hourly. Like clockwork. Much easier to manage and keep up with rather than trying to force yourself awake at 7am etc etc.. 

• *Take at least 24 hours to attempt to catch up on jet-lag. Your body will thank you for it. 
  

Make sure you stick to your injection schedule as closely as possible. A few hours here or there shouldn't be a problem. (Note I am not a doctor, if you have good control of your T1D this should be fine. If you have poor control you should set an alarm to make sure you don't miss any injections or BSLs)

• *Always have your kit on you. You never know when you will get kicked out of a taxi and be stuck somewhere in the middle of New York with no idea of where you are or how long you will be there. 
  

Having your kit on you will save you if you get stranded for a decent amount of time and are due for an injection. Avoid hypers as much as you can. Hypos, you know you can eat. Hopefully if you don't know you're having one you are travelling with someone who can tell when you start to go low. Hypers with no insulin on hand? Not a good idea.!!. I also suggest having money haha so you can get another cab and the correct address of where you are attending :)

• *Pack extra insulin, test strips, needles, glucagon. ALWAYS have more than you need.
  

Luggage gets lost. Bags get misplaced. Don't be caught short. I make sure to have 2 of each pen in my hand bag, plus needles. In my checked luggage I will carry double what I know I will need. I will also pack an extra box of insulin and needles in my husbands luggage just in case mine gets lost. 

That's about all I have on travelling tips. Pretty simple. Stay safe!