An Interview with Cazzy of Dream Big, Travel Far

People said some pretty irritating things upon my diagnosis with type 1.  Like, the ever-annoying, "You're lucky you didn't go into a diabetic coma!" While I am grateful it was caught without any major incidents, I can't consider myself "lucky" for having type 1 diabetes!  There is also the constant, "Can you eat that?  You can't eat that, right?" I was driving past an ice cream shop with a former co-worker who said, "I'm glad we went and got ice cream when we did, because now we can't do that anymore HAHAHAHA." This was literally five minutes after explaining to her that I can eat carbs and sugar as long as I take the right amount of insulin.  That same co-worker started greeting me with, "How's your blood sugar today?" For a diabetic, that's the same as asking, "What's your weight today?" It's not something that one should ask their co-workers!  Perhaps, the most annoying thing of all were the comments, "Well, now you can't travel." Wrong!  Today, I have an interview with Cazzy of dreambigtravelfarblog.com, who has a lot more type 1 diabetes travel experience than me!

All photos provided by Cazzy

Hi Cazzy, thanks for joining Stranger in a Strange Land. Can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?  Where did you grow up?  When/how did you become interested in travelling?

Hey! Thanks so much for featuring me Crystal! My name is Cazzy Magennis and I am 23 years old, from the North of Ireland in a little town called Castwellan, its a beautiful place filled with green mountains and I love it! I lived in the city, Belfast for a while too! So I have experienced both quiet and manic life! I became interested in travelling when I was a little girl, I always had this need and want to explore, I would see all these amazing places on TV and in magazines and knew I needed to visit them. There isn't anywhere I don't want to visit, I embrace all cultures, countries and lifestyles! I plan to visit all ends of the world. I started saving to travel since I was 10, so I have definitely give myself a great start. 

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after I had already traveled to 24 countries.  When were you diagnosed with T1D?  Was this before or after you started travelling? 

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was 16, so before I had done any real adventures away. The furthest I had been before then was Spain, but when I turned 18, I went on my first trip to Paris, and have traveled since then to Bangladesh, Dubai, Thailand, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, Brazil and more! My travelling life started with type 1 diabetes, so I never really knew what it felt like to travel without, so I  have embraced carrying a million supplies with me wherever I go! 

The first time I traveled with insulin and needles, I was sure I would get stopped by airport security.  I've flown several times since then and have never had a problem.  Have you ever had trouble going through airport security with your diabetes supplies?

That's great! I have never had any real issues with airport security, I always carry a doctors letter and translated to language of the country I am travelling too, in case I do get asked. The odd time, someone will look at my letter, but I have never been refused travel, or had issues with my supplies, or going through scanners. The only time I did have an issue was flying from Gatwick London back to Ireland, and the lady at security was extremely rude about me and my insulin pump, insisting it could go through X-ray which it couldn't, and I had a letter stating it couldn't, but I stood up for myself and reported her, its important you don't let people intimidate you when it comes to your health, if a security person is being awkward, just request someone else. 

One of my biggest concerns so far is what I would do if something happens to my insulin supply when travelling.  Has anything ever happened to you?  If so, what did you do to replace it?

This is always a concern of my mine, but I put things in place to make sure I am covered in an emergency. Firstly, I always split my supplies with someone else (providing you are travelling with someone else), and if not I always split my supplies in two different bags, so if one is stolen, I know I have a backup. I also make sure I have located the nearest place I could receive emergency insulin supplies in the country I am visiting, or emergency contact numbers! I was once in Thailand at the Full Moon Party and Ko Phagan, and I was standing at the bar to order a drink, I had taken my monitor out to test my bloods, and my sister called my name, I turned around for  split second to ask what she wanted and when I looked back, my monitor was gone! Thankfully I had managed to test my bloods before that, and after slight panic, I knew I had a spare monitor back at my hostel! I then felt sorry for the guy who thought he stole a mobile phone and ended up with a blood glucose monitor! But, I have never had any issues with keeping my insulin cool, and on my 4 month trip in South America, not a single drop of insulin died because of my Frio bags! I don't know how I would travel without them. 

What was the worst diabetes related issue you've experienced while travelling?  Has anything major ever happened?

When I was travelling throughout South America, as the altitude got higher, my blood control started to struggle. At first I kept thinking it was something else, but I knew that the symptoms of altitude sickness were heightened because of my bloods. I ended up becoming very ill near the end of my trip and just couldn't get the control anymore, it began to ruin the experience for me because I simply couldn't do anything, so I flew back 2 weeks earlier, which I knew I had to do, because my health is the most important thing, but two weeks is not a big loss of time and I am glad I did get my health back on track, that means I am ready for Indonesia in June! I was disappointed in myself for a while, but then I realized I didn't have anything to prove to anyone, I just needed some time to rebuild myself then I was eager and ready to head off again! 

On a more positive note, what about the best diabetes experience?  For example, I always get really excited when I run into another T1D by chance!

I love running into other T1D's- I was on a bus to Amsterdam, and I heard this girl sitting behind me ask the guy beside her was in hypo, I couldn't be subtle and popped my head round and asked if he was type 1 diabetic, and we hit it off! We spent the rest of the 12 hour journey talking all things diabetes! I hope to meet more as I travel. The best thing though, is the platform I have to help other less fortunate type 1 diabetics. I raised money for a type 1 diabetic children charity in Bolivia, and I got to spend the day with the kids and really feel the struggle they go through, and that give me even more motivation to do further work to help them, and we now have two campaigns running in Bolivia. I want to be able to help as many diabetics around the world, and I am glad I have started in such a wonderful country with the most wonderful people. 

Wow, that's wonderful that you raised money for a charity in Bolivia!  What is it like to be type 1 diabetic there?  Also, some countries have never heard of diabetes?  Which countries are those?  What happens to the people who do have diabetes in these countries?  Are they constantly misdiagnosed or do they not have access to doctor's?

Bolivia is actually one of the countries that has never really heard of diabetes, I met many Bolivians who had no idea it existed or what it was. Being a diabetic in Bolivia is hard- they receive no funding whatsoever from the government because the government doesn't recognize it as an illness and they have no health insurance. So most children in Bolivia who get type 1 diabetes, don't realise that's what they have, and just die from it. This happens a lot in the countryside too where they have no access to any health care. Bolivia have one diabetic charity, the one in whom we are working with, and they operate in La Paz. They can afford to test their blood sugars once a day, and rely on an import of insulin and strips monthly, so if this is late or doesn't get through customs, they don't have insulin or test strips. They have little to no information on diabetes, and they currently support around 60 children, so there are plenty more who don't know they have diabetes. It's a really upsetting situation, and I wont give up on them. ​

I often travel solo and then make friends with other solo travellers.  At what point upon meeting someone do you tell them that you are diabetic?  Do you prefer to tell them right away for safety reasons or do you prefer to wait until they know you better?

It usually comes up in conversation once people see my sensor on my arm and ask what that is! Which is a great way to get the conversation going, people are intrigued and I love spreading awareness. People tend to think the sensor on my arm is a nicotine patch until I tell them otherwise! I usually find someones friend or family member has it which is cool! I always have diabetic ID on me, but  honestly in some countries it isn't much use since they have never heard of diabetes, so I do make sure anyone I am doing activities with knows I have diabetes, but most of my travelling is done with my travel partner Bradley, so I always have someone who knows! 

That is great that you have a travel partner!  It is always fun to travel with a travel buddy!  Is it ever hard to travel with one of you as a diabetic and one not or do you have your travel dynamics figured out by now?

Thanks! We definitely have our dynamics figured out by now. I couldn't imagine not travelling without my non diabetic buddy, its nice to be around someone more "normal" (if anyone is normal!) so that I don't feel like my whole life is diabetes. My travel partner knows how it affects me, and some days I may not feel up to climbing a mountain, and we completely respect each other. Having that support as well is crucial when I am having bad blood sugar days and blaming the world for everything! It is also great for spreading awareness when you hear what type 1 diabetes is from someone who doesn't have it, it can be explained in perhaps a more relateable way. 

Do you buy health or traveller's insurance when you go abroad?  Do you have any recommendations for type 1s interested in travelling internationally but worried about health insurance? 

I buy health insurance. I actually search price comparison sites for the best deal, because that works out cheaper for me that getting insurance through a diabetic company-- this is because I don't have any complications, so therefore my insurance doesn't work out much more expensive than a non-diabetics. However, if you are worried about health insurance, I would get in touch with as many organisations and insurance groups as possible and find out what is best for you, but you can always find someone with reasonable insurance, but make sure you read the fine print to ensure you are covered for all you need! 

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Do you have any advice for a new T1D before their first trip?


Research, plan and more planning!  I made my blog to help make the planning process easier for me, and as a bonus hopefully easier for anyone else going away! I always suggest making a list of everything possible that could go wrong, even stuff that has a tiny percentage, and although this can get a little frustrating because you think everything is against you, it is completely worth it when you are on an adventure and know you have prepared for accidents and emergencies, it will give you peace of mind! Also, just have fun, and make sure you realise how strong you are for being able to go away- its takes effort if you want to have good control and travel, but it 100% can be done, and lastly get advice, everyone body and diabetes is different, so if you get lots of different advice you will hopefully find something that helps you- but do remember just because something didn't work for someone else, or did work for some else, doesn't meant it will be the same for you. Plan to suit your diabetes!
Thanks Cazzy!