I made some observations while driving from Colorado to New Hampshire over the past five days. First of all, and probably most important, we have a beautiful country. From the vast, open farmland of the midwest to the green mountains of Vermont and the lakes of New Hampshire, this is quite a place. I saw several mile markers and exit signs with “117”, which always made me smile.
I noticed that the stops along route 80 through Nebraska are getting cleaner and more modern. There are a few more choices in food and lodging now than there were years ago. The rest areas in Iowa have been completely redone and are very nice! We had picnic lunches at many of these places. Rest areas on highways throughout our trip even had wi-fi!
The most significant observation, though, is that when I practice what I preach it really works. I’m always coaching patients to keep up their healthy habits when traveling – check blood glucose levels, take walks, eat well, etc., – and then they can enjoy their experiences more. Well, folks, it’s true. I actually packed a cooler with veggies and fruit, sandwich supplies, cereal and milk. When it came time for lunches, not only did we save time (and money), I didn’t eat roadside junk/fast food that makes me feel tired and gross. I also walked every morning and this combination of exercise and healthy eating gave me the energy to get through five long days of driving. I highly recommend it!
I definitely acknowledge that it’s easy to throw in the towel while away from home and routine. It’s more convenient (and tasty) to just eat the junk, slack off on the exercise, maybe even the blood glucose monitoring. But if you stick with it, the payoff is worth it: more energy and a better attitude for enjoying the sights and people you are visiting.
Any other tips for traveling with diabetes?