Last Updated on March 29, 2023 by PowersToTravel
I’ve written an in-depth page on on my blog about all travel challenges for type 1 diabetics regardless of the continent. Click here to read it. It is my intention to supplement that page with specifics for each country I’ve visited, specifics based on my own experience.
So, here goes, for Iceland!
- Flying Challenges
- So much more activity than usual
- Keeping my insulin cold while traveling
- Eating unusual foods
- Avoiding the water
- Protecting my insulin and supplies from theft
- Coping with diarrhea and vomiting
- Avoiding the mosquitoes
- If it bleeds – antibiotic!
- Travel insurance?
- Keep a more than adequate emergency stash of insulin and supplies with you at all times
Flying Challenges
Actually travel to Iceland from the Boston area is less stressful than any other international location I’ve visited. It’s a relatively short flight to Reykjavik. Follow that up with a relaxing swim at the Blue Lagoon, and an early check-in to a Reykjavik hotel, and you’re all set!
So much more activity than usual
I’ve found Iceland to be just about Average on the scale of activity – you tend to drive long distances to get from place to place. Once you are there, you often are able to park fairly close to the important sight, such as a waterfall. Only when we made the decision to take a long hike did I feel that I was much more active than at home.
Keeping my insulin cold while traveling
On all trips, even to colder climates, we bring Greg’s Koolatron electric cooler which plugs into the car’s cigarette lighter. See my article How to keep insulin cold for more than 28 days and more than 24 hours for details on how we protect my insulin on EVERY trip. Even in colder climates there will be time when cars get hot, and it’s not convenient or wise to carry your whole supply with you on an outing.
Eating Unusual Foods
I didn’t eat anything unusual in Iceland, nor was tempted to. It was easy to just eat Western-style / ethnic foods, like Thai, or Pizza, just like at home. Greg was sadly tempted to eat puffin and shark, but thankfully did not. I was happy he decided against puffin for ecological reasons, and for my ability to eat my own dinner, in terms of the shark.
Avoiding the Water
No need to avoid the water – it’s delicious and healthy in Iceland.
Protecting my insulin and supplies from theft
I had no real fears of theft when leaving our SUV in parking lots to take hikes.
Coping with Diarrhea and Vomiting
Not a chance in Iceland – happy water, happy digestive system!
Avoiding the mosquitos and disease
The mosquitos and large biting flies can really drive you bananas in Iceland. When my parents and I traveled in mid-June, we were driven into our car by swarming, biting flies at Seljalandsfoss. In late May when Greg and I visited, there were no flies whatsoever.
As upsetting as that was, I wasn’t worried about them carrying diseases, as insects do in the Tropics.
If it bleeds – antibiotic!
That goes without saying, however in Iceland one unlikely to contract some nasty tropical infection!
Travel Insurance?
I would only consider travel insurance if I were to take a several day hike into the center of the island, which I didn’t. Healthcare is advanced, and there are airports in the east (Hofn, Egilstaddir) to get you quickly to Reykjavik if necessary.
Note that I am from the US where we don’t have universal health care. My health insurance provides for medical insurance outside of the US boundaries on an “out-of-network” basis. If I didn’t have this coverage, then I certainly would buy travel medical insurance.
Keep a more than adequate emergency stash of insulin and supplies with you at all times
Generally I do. But when we stay at one location and run around doing day trips, I’ll frequently leave insulin and supplies safely in my hotel room. But it is critical in Iceland that you don’t just have an emergency pack that will last you only one day – your vehicle can breakdown and you can be stranded overnight.
I made the mistake of going out on a drive to a remote location without checking the status of my insulin reservoir. It was easily the most stressful of diabetic travel issue I’ve ever had. Click here to read the entire story of our “alls-well-that-ends-well” “live life to its emptiest” trip to Borgarfjordur Estri!
