Take a supply of drugs and, if required, syringes, needles and urine and blood testing equipment with you that will be sufficient to cover your whole trip. It may benefit diabetic travellers controlled on oral hypoglycaemic medication or by dietary restriction to stick with meal times in the home departure zone for the duration of the journey and to adjust to local time on arrival. For insulin-dependent diabetics an individual schedule should be worked out before travel with a doctor taking into account length of journey and time zones to be crossed. It is important to remember that diarrhoea and vomiting, altered diet, unaccustomed exercise and anxiety may all contribute to an upset in blood sugar levels. A travelling companion should know how to recognise the early signs of hypoglycaemia.
Hot climates can exacerbate diseases of the cardiovascular and digestive systems.
On the other hand, rheumatic pain and chronic respiratory conditions may be alleviated in hot climates. Modern civil aircraft maintain a cabin pressure equivalent to an atmospheric pressure at an altitude of approximately 6,000 feet. Signs and symptoms include personality change, euphoria, mental and physical incoordination and blueness to lips, earlobes and nail beds. The treatment is administration of oxygen and may be given by cabin staff where hypoxia is suspected. The volume of enclosed gases will increase by about one third.