Last Updated on April 6, 2023 by PowersToTravel
Dry heat, that’s what I think of when I think of Qatar, and sand, that is, of course.
Sand doesn’t impact me as a diabetic (as a contact lens wearer, yes) however heat does, impact me for sure.
I’ve written an article Diabetic Travel Tips for International Travel which discusses all the risks and considerations I can think of for diabetics as they travel. Of the categories there, “Keeping your insulin cold” is most important in Qatar.
Keeping your insulin cold
Qatar is not a large country, so it’s more likely that you’ll be staying in a hotel in Doha and taking day trips out to the desert. We stayed at the Souq Waqif Boutique Hotel, a fabulous hotel in the heart of the historic Souq Waqif district. They provided mini-bars in the rooms, and I stored my remaining insulin there; I had no desire to bring it out into the Middle Eastern heat.
I write from the luxury of wearing an insulin pump, in which there is a reservoir containing several days of insulin – I carry my spare safely with me, under a loose shirt and not exposed to the sun.
For those who must carry vials of insulin, it is critical to prepare the little freezer bar and carry the extra vial in a protected case while out and about in Qatar. For difficulties in freezing the little freezer bar, read on…
However, Doha was our final stop before our return to the US, which meant that I needed to make sure the freezer bars in my makeshift insulin transit box were fully frozen prior to going to the airport. (See my “How to keep insulin cold while traveling for more than 28 days and more than 24 hours“)
The mini-bar in the room had no freezer section. I hate that!
I had to deliver the stash of freezer bars to the receptionist the previous night and instruct him to put them in the Freezer, not the Refrigerator in their kitchen. I was surprised how difficult that communication became. Trying to distinguish between those two words with a person whose English was not terribly strong stressed me out a lot. If he put them in the refrigerator then I would not have enough chill in my box to make it all the way home.
At this point in my trip, I, myself, and my current bottle of insulin would have survived with no issues, as indeed, I was going HOME, however I also carried with me the two backup bottles of long-acting insulin. I had been successful during the entire 2+ months in keeping that insulin refrigerated and therefore saved from the garbage upon our return.
If the receptionist put my freezer bars in the wrong place, down the drain would go hundreds of dollars. (My Rx insurance does cover me for backup insulin however I know the value of insulin and feel strongly the horrible price some people have to pay for it.)
The next morning, I went to the receptionist, a different person naturally, and requested my freezer bars. Oh? He seemed confused, and went into the kitchen. Nothing for you there.
“What? I gave the man my freezer bars. They are in the freezer.” Once again, the difference between freezer and refrigerator seemed to elude him.
After a bit of stress finally someone emerged with my frozen freezer bars.
There’s got to be a better way, perhaps downloading and printing a picture of a refrigerator and a freezer, and circling the freezer section? But then do refrigerators and freezers look different in different countries? Maybe I could have marked the package “< 0 degrees C”?
I could have at least taken a picture of the package of freezer bars I had given to the first man, so that the second man would know what to look for in the kitchen.
Activity in Qatar – be mindful of risks of dehydration
While I wasn’t much more active in Qatar than in any other location during our trip, it was very hot. (It was very hot in Bangkok too!)
And where there’s heat, there’s dehydration. Dehydration can make you not think straight, make bad decisions, and can cause life-threatening and kidney-threatening imbalances in blood sugar levels, liquids and ketones.
Keep hydrated at all costs, and that means drinking when you are not even thirsty yet. Don’t ration your water, drink! As tourists we are so much more focused on the excitement of the moment. As diabetics we are at much greater risk of death from dehydration than your average bear.
Drink bottled water
As in many places in the world – be sure to drink bottled water only and never water from the tap. This includes not eating the beautiful fresh veggies on your plate or sandwich, and not brushing your teeth with tap water.
Enjoy
Prepare yourself properly for Qatar, and enjoy the sights and adventures. After all, that’s why you’re there.
