19 Comments
When flying on an airplane, do you make any changes to your typical insulin dosage? Select all that apply to you!
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I wear a pump and sensor so I make changes if needed, which 9 times out of 10 are just not carb counting restaurant and plane food correctly.
I use a temporary basal which is correcting to 150. I’d rather not go lie on a plane or shortly after landing.
Same adjustments I make any time I’m in active, sitting during the flight and depending what there is to eat. Getting to and from the flight may involve activity to adjust for.
For me, sitting in an airplane is no different than sitting anywhere else. I test my glucose if I feel anything strange, and I always have sugar in the raw packets within reach everywhere I go to fix a low. Particularly important on a plane to have it within arms reach not in the suitcase above my head, for when you cannot leave your seat nor can the flight attendant bring you juice etc.
I use the Omnipod and I have to remove the pod when I fly. Even though I’ve had diabetes for 64 years I am very sensitive to insulin. It does not matter how high I let my glucose get before boarding once I am up my glucose bottoms out. I can’t eat or drink enough to keep it above 30 while flying so the endo says remove the pod. For long overseas flights I have to go back to injections while in the air. Most frustrating since I love the pump.
I do not make changes because the newer pumps have the ability to ramp up or down or turn off insulin to maintain pre-set bloodsugar range. I let the pump do it’s job and only correct a low of my pump doesn’t suspend in time.
Depending on what I did the day before flying ie physical excursion/exercise this would influence my basal rate. Due to my on going Keto diet highly unlikely I would change my rates though and let the pump handle the lows and highs if any.
If flight is under 2 hours, I don’t have an issue. Flights longer than that tend to cause a rapid decrease in my blood sugar at about the 3 hour mark.
I no longer can travel more than45 minutes from home as sitting that still in a car will raisemy BG.
This question implies a static approach to diabetes management. I look at my cgm, then act accordingly, which can be any of the above answers. Stressful ride to airport and blood sugar rising – increase basal. Lows due to period, decrease basal and eat protein with a meal to keep steady. Rising due to lack of walking around – increase basal and correction bolus. And on and on. Did the writers of this question forget that every single body responds differently every single day ? Some may have a set airplane basal routine, for others that would never work….🤦♀️
I make no changes in basal insulin, but I do check more frequently and, most importantly, leave my watch and pump set at the time zone I am leaving so I know what my body “thinks” is the time of day. I try to keep a similar eating routine until next day.
I change my pump time in the air to the time zone where I’m traveling before landing
No changes to delivery settings (aside from the clock if I am changing time zones for more than a day or two) I do disconnect at my infusion set. I have experienced accidental insulin delivery during takeoff and/or landing. It doesn’t happen often, but once was enough. It was pre-CGM and there I was in the Amsterdam Airport for the first time (used to go annually) and tanking. Luckily, an airport staffperson came to my aid, got me settled and ran to get juice and made sure I was good.
While I probably should increase my basal, I just let everything stay the same but check more often and give correction insulin as needed.
I’ve not experienced the extra insulin given that some here have experienced… at least not yet and hopefully not ever.
I find my blood sugars going very high.
Oh! almost forgot since I haven’t travelled in donkey’s years… I also take syringes along in my purse or carryon (and in my suitcase, but they’re harder to get to while in flight… ;p …) in case the pump really stops working altogether.
I do not make changes to my typical insulin dosing that I don’t normally have to deal with, besides adjusting to the time once I have arrived.
I make sure to order the diabetic meals and ask for soda if needed.
Wearing an insulin pump, I have found that I don’t need as much insulin, as it seems the pressure causes more insulin than I have expected to be released – I have had some extreme lows before it dawned on me what the problem was. Since I started making the adjustment, I have not had a problem.
I’ve flown in the past, but sitting for longer than 50’ is dangerous. Getting to & from airport and getting to the gate can burn more energy than you think. I had some minor hassle jetting thru just 3 US time zones. Flying, especially Eastern Airlines, used to be a pleasant congenial experience. But services have deteriorated, seats are crowded, extra fees every time you turnaround. Years ago a T1 friend of mine flew to India from Seattle. He brought along many nutrition bars to munch as needed. He had no problems with time differences or anything else and a had great time visiting his relatives. Nowadays I prefer railroads, because time zone changes are more gradual, and you can get up and walk around anytime. Much less stressful and the scenery much more interesting than by auto. Always carry extra food no matter how you travel. Flights can be delayed. And getting off the plane during heavily traveled winter months, when you land you may find empty vending machines and airport restaurants out of food.
I have to disable my pump and not take insulin while flying. I also ensure that my BG level is slightly elevated before flight. My BG level always drops during flights, probably due to the change in pressure and its effects on circulation?? Not sure, but my level has consistently dramatically dropped when flying.
I was a FAA Principal Airworthiness Inspector. Flew All over the World and the USA. I always stayed on top of of the “Numbers”. I always stared very conservative with Bolus’s and Basal numbers. I changes the time as we crossed the time lines so there would not be a big change at the end of the flights.