Type 1 Coping with Long Haul Travel

[Toodlepip]

Hi, I’m travelling to New Zealand and Singapore early next year and would dearly like to hear from anyone who has done the kind of time difference involved and how they managed? Thanks.

 

[Pipp]

Will tag @EllieM , who, I believe has relevant experience of similar travels.

 

[Hoodiegirl3]

Hi, I’m travelling to New Zealand and Singapore early next year and would dearly like to hear from anyone who has done the kind of time difference involved and how they managed? Thanks.

Well if it’s air travel then your sugars will probably be bad, you take extra supplies that when you think you have enough you double or triple that amount, never traveled with a pump before so I don’t know about that but if ur on injections ask your team about whether you should make dosage changes and there is a high chance you feel super sick

 

[Nicola M]

Hi, I’m travelling to New Zealand and Singapore early next year and would dearly like to hear from anyone who has done the kind of time difference involved and how they managed? Thanks.

Do you take insulin injections or are you on a pump?
Do you have a CGM?

 

[EllieM]

Well, I've done that trip reasonably often, before and after cgms, before and after having a pump.

1) Lots of extra supplies (including a spare glucometer)
2) All diabetic supplies in hand luggage
3) Always have glucose in pockets (no use having your glucose in the overhead locker when the fasten seatbelt sign is on) and yes hypos when going through airport security or customs are no fun.
4) Allow extra time to get through security if you don't want to go through the scanner. (I don't take my pump through.)
5) Time changes - not a big deal for me, I usually keep a timepiece on origin time till I've got through to final destination, just so I know where I am insulin wise. Will depend on whether you are on pump or MDI, and if the latter what it is and when you take it. (eg when I was on lantus I split it anyway so a 12 hour change made no difference but when I was on once a day basal I tended to delay the dose so I had a 12 hour period when I covered with bolus. I think I sometimes may have swapped the dose to morning/evening in order to make it work.)
6) A note from clinic or pharmacy with your meds. (You probably won't need it).


Enjoy your trip! I never had too much difficulty with the time changes but I am confident to handle correction doses, necessary if you haven't got any basal on board.

 

[Toodlepip]

Do you take insulin injections or are you on a pump?
Do you have a CGM?

Hi, I take 4 daily incl. basal (Tresiba) in the morning. I do have a CGM. I’ll be flying Heathrow/Singapore/Christchurch and Auckland/S/H on return.

 

[Toodlepip]

Well if it’s air travel then your sugars will probably be bad, you take extra supplies that when you think you have enough you double or triple that amount, never traveled with a pump before so I don’t know about that but if ur on injections ask your team about whether you should make dosage changes and there is a high chance you feel super sick

Thanks (I think) for that I’ll definitely will be taking as many jelly babies as I can carry along with lucozade.

 

[Toodlepip]

Well, I've done that trip reasonably often, before and after cgms, before and after having a pump.

1) Lots of extra supplies (including a spare glucometer)
2) All diabetic supplies in hand luggage
3) Always have glucose in pockets (no use having your glucose in the overhead locker when the fasten seatbelt sign is on) and yes hypos when going through airport security or customs are no fun.
4) Allow extra time to get through security if you don't want to go through the scanner. (I don't take my pump through.)
5) Time changes - not a big deal for me, I usually keep a timepiece on origin time till I've got through to final destination, just so I know where I am insulin wise. Will depend on whether you are on pump or MDI, and if the latter what it is and when you take it. (eg when I was on lantus I split it anyway so a 12 hour change made no difference but when I was on once a day basal I tended to delay the dose so I had a 12 hour period when I covered with bolus. I think I sometimes may have swapped the dose to morning/evening in order to make it work.)
6) A note from clinic or pharmacy with your meds. (You probably won't need it).


Enjoy your trip! I never had too much difficulty with the time changes but I am confident to handle correction doses, necessary if you haven't got any basal on board.

Thanks for replying. I have document from Diabetic Clinic for travelling. It really is the time differences that trouble me. Since the Tresiba is 24/48hrs acting I just wonder if I should inject at same time almost as I do here but at night time instead of morning OR split it. I am confident about correction doses with bolus.
I am considering adopting final destination time as soon as I fly out from Heathrow.

 

[Pipp]

Thanks (I think) for that I’ll definitely will be taking as many jelly babies as I can carry along with lucozade.

Be aware that jelly babies contain beef gelatine, and make sure you declare them at airport, to avoid being fined.

https://www.mpi.govt.nz/bring-send-to-nz/bringing-and-posting-items-to-nz/check-if-you-can-bring-or-send-an-item-to-nz

 

[Antje77]

Thanks for replying. I have document from Diabetic Clinic for travelling. It really is the time differences that trouble me. Since the Tresiba is 24/48hrs acting I just wonder if I should inject at same time almost as I do here but at night time instead of morning OR split it. I am confident about correction doses with bolus.
I am considering adopting final destination time as soon as I fly out from Heathrow.

Tresiba is very forgiving with timing.
I take mine last thing before I turn off the light, whether that is 10 pm or 6 am and I can switch back and forth without noticing a difference.

If you're used to taking your basal in the morning but you are fine taking it at some point in the evening during your travels, this seems the easiest way to go.
I wouldn't worry about changing to the exact same time corrected for time difference, give or take a few hours works fine for most people on Tresiba.

 

[Toodlepip]

Tresiba is very forgiving with timing.
I take mine last thing before I turn off the light, whether that is 10 pm or 6 am and I can switch back and forth without noticing a difference.

If you're used to taking your basal in the morning but you are fine taking it at some point in the evening during your travels, this seems the easiest way to go.
I wouldn't worry about changing to the exact same time corrected for time difference, give or take a few hours works fine for most people on Tresiba.

Thanks for this. Your comments have been really helpful and I will certainly adopt this strategy. I am probably worrying unnecessarily but just don’t want to spend time overthinking everything and not enjoying myself to the full.