Eating and drinking: Diets, diabetics and vegetarians

Make dietary needs known well before you travel. Warn airlines and hotels and call restaurants in advance, in case they don't serve food suitable for you. Always confirm your requests and take emergency food supplies.

Diets

Before your holiday, get a doctor's letter outlining your condition, the generic names of any medication you need and any equipment you use. You are the best judge of what you can eat, so remember to ask about ingredients before tucking in.

• Be aware of differing cultural attitudes to food - they affect what's on offer
• Carry food supplies from home if visiting a remote spot that won't cater for your needs
• Learn the appropriate foreign words for foods you must avoid

Diabetes

Always have a medical check-up before travelling. Carry a doctor's letter outlining your condition and the equipment you use, such as syringes for insulin. Take a prescription too, with the generic names of your medication.

Insulin

• Carry insulin and other medication in your hand luggage. Following the new hand baggage regulations introduced by the British Airports Authority (BAA), prescribed medicines in liquid form, eg diabetic medicines, over 50ml, must be verified by a pharmacist at any of the airport pharmacies
• Put insulin supplies in the fridge at your destination
• Keep your insulin cool during flights, but don't let it freeze
• Don't take pre-meal insulin shots until you're sure food is on the way
• Take extra supplies of insulin and syringes in case of delays. Any syringes not checked in with your hold luggage must be discarded before you head through airport security.

General tips

• Carry nibbles and sugary snacks with you on the plane
• Keep your watch on UK time to monitor insulin shots
• Take spare batteries for your glucose monitor if you use one
• Consider wearing a Medic Alert bracelet identifying your condition
• If going somewhere foreign, know how to ask for juice and sugar in the language

Vegetarians

Vegetarian diets are common in India, Italy, Holland and Germany, for example, but less so in North and South America. Unless you stick to bread, salads and vegetables, ask about ingredients before you eat, just as you would at home. Be wary of:

• Meat stocks, sometimes used in soups, sauces and vegetable stuffings
• Vegetable casseroles, often flavoured with small pieces of meat
• Fried foods, which may have been cooked in animal fats or oils

Food hygiene

Whatever your dietary needs, remember to adopt good food habits abroad to avoid illness.

• Don't eat food that has been left out in the sun for long periods
• Wash and peel fruit and raw vegetables before eating them
• Don't eat foods that have been reheated several times
• Be wary of raw seafood - one 'off' prawn can cause food poisoning
• Only eat food from vendors that has been covered and kept properly cool or hot
• Stick to bottled and boiled water and avoid ice made with tap water
• Don't eat meat - especially in fast foods - that has not been properly cooked