Travelling Tips

Hi everyone
I am living in New Zealand and we are going to USA for a family holiday. I have been to Australia and had no problems with insulin taking (only a 2 hour time difference) but going to the States the time difference is greater. Does anyone have any tips for me to keep my diabetes under control and when I should be taking my insulin (NZ time or US time?).
Thanks for your help.
Cameron

Hi,
There is advice in the DAFNE Handbook about crossing time zones under the heading 'Travel'. Someone must have tried it. Enjoy your holiday. Dave.

I travel between the UK and US a lot (between 4-5 hours and 8-10 hours time differences). I start my trip on "beginning time zone" and keep to regular injection schedules for baseline insulin, but monitor my sugars a bit more frequently during the trip and adjust with QA as necessary (because I'm sitting down - usually in an uncomfortable seat - and often stressed - also eating "unnatural" foods...). Once I get to the US I then try to re-adjust the schedule quickly to the local time zone (but I try to be aware that the first 24 hours might be problematic) - I prefer to go a little "high" and bring that down later rather than risk a serious hypo. (Doing the trip over 2-3 days can be a real hassle !). Main thing is to stay relaxed - DAFNE lets us do that. Make sure you have food/hypo treatments with you. I usually take a sandwich in the plane (airline food can be inedible at times, or sometimes not even offered...) - even if I have to dump it before US customs (I was "caught" with a banana once...). Small oranges or tiny tomatoes are good (and re-hydrating) - also some carrot/celery sticks etc. Make sure you have some sweets/fast sugar - problems can come up quickly while travelling, and planes are not good places to have a severe hypo problem ! (Last little thing - be careful to re-hydrate during the flight - I take a couple of bottles of water (I fill up an empty after passing through security) - and not too much wine with the meal etc.... All good advice for anyone, but we all know that diabetics are more healthy than the general polulation).... Have a great trip !

Thanks for the useful advice, only 10 days until we go!!

Didn’t want to start up a another thread so will ask in here. Basically i am a nervous flyer and am finding that my BG rockets the two hours before the flight and stays that way until i land and can correct. Is it actually possible that being nervous of flying is making my BG rise so high? Any help advice appreciated please?

Hi Rafa,

I have a friend (non diabetic) who is similarly nervous when flying. She talked to her doctor and he prescribed Zanax (small dose..half a tablet for memory) which she takes about 2-3 hours before boarding.

Only disadvantage for her is that it sometimes puts her to sleep on night flights. I believe it is an anti-anxiety drug. Talk to your doctor. How long are the flights?

Helen

HelenP said:
Hi Rafa,

I have a friend (non diabetic) who is similarly nervous when flying. She talked to her doctor and he prescribed Zanax (small dose..half a tablet for memory) which she takes about 2-3 hours before boarding.

Only disadvantage for her is that it sometimes puts her to sleep on night flights. I believe it is an anti-anxiety drug. Talk to your doctor. How long are the flights?

Helen

Hi,

I am sure it is the nerves but I was also assuming it was a longer flight than an hour (coming from Brisbane we can not go many places in an hour!). I would not medicate for an hour flight.
Helen

Sorry this is a bit late - but it could be helpful in the future. I saw on the Sheffield site that David Cragg had posted the following information for travel and insulin advice:

http://www.voyagemd.com/ The website is owned by Professor Kerr, a Consultant Physician at Bournemouth Diabetes and Endocrine Centre.
You enter your insulin and flight information and it suggests how you can manage any change in timezones.

Plumcious said:
Sorry this is a bit late - but it could be helpful in the future. I saw on the Sheffield site that David Cragg had posted the following information for travel and insulin advice:

http://www.voyagemd.com/ The website is owned by Professor Kerr, a Consultant Physician at Bournemouth Diabetes and Endocrine Centre.
You enter your insulin and flight information and it suggests how you can manage any change in timezones.