Clinical Diabetes 21:82-85, 2003
© American Diabetes Association ®, Inc., 2003
Have Insulin, Will Fly: Diabetes Management During Air Travel and Time Zone Adjustment Strategies
Manju Chandran, MD and
Steven V. Edelman, MD
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Introduction
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The world definitely has become a smaller place. Traveling across multiple time zones within the span of a few hours or days is now commonplace.
Overseas travel poses special problems for people with diabetes, especially those on insulin. However, the fear of dealing with medications and acute complications should not prevent people with diabetes from traveling, whether for work or recreation. Advanced planning can help to prevent or minimize emergencies that may occur away from home.
One problem insulin-treated people with diabetes face when flying across time zones is confusion about how to adjust their insulin times and dosage amounts to avoid being "out of sync" with local time on arrival. Very little information is available regarding time zone insulin adjustment strategies. A British study in 1993 clearly demonstrated that most physicians, including diabetologists, are uncertain about how to adjust insulin doses for patients who travel across several time zones.
This article provides some recommendations on managing diabetes during air travel. It is important to remember, however, that these are general guidelines and that management should be individualized for each patient.
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Planning Ahead
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Ideally, patients who are planning overseas travel should schedule an office visit with their health care provider at least 4–6 weeks before departure. This gives providers an opportunity to assess their patients’ current level of diabetes control, to give specific advice regarding diabetes management and prevention of acute complications, to offer information on preventing and managing common travel-related problems, and to determine the need for any immunizations. Any changes in medication regimen should be made well in advance of departure so that there is enough time to incorporate them into daily routines.
It is important for patients to obtain a travel itinerary showing departure and arrival times, durations of flights, and time differences between the points of embarkation and . . . [Full Text of this Article]
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Before Boarding
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On Board
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Adjusting insulin injections and mealtimes while crossing time zones
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Advice for traveling east across five or more time zones
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Advice for traveling west across five or more time zones
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Advice for those who use insulin pumps
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Advice for those on oral agents for diabetes
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Throughout the Trip
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Obtaining Medical Assistance Abroad
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Summary
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Copyright © 2003 by the American Diabetes Association.
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