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Pumps And Aeroplanes

ThePenguinPimp

ThePenguinPimp

Well-Known Member
Messages
130
Location
London
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
(EDIT: If you are going on a plane start by reading this article it opened my eyes: https://asweetlife.org/what-you-should-know-about-flying-with-an-insulin-pump/)

Hi, I am sure I have read somewhere before that if you don't put your pump into aeroplane mode when flying then it can suddenly deliver huge quantities of insulin by accident. I have flown a few times a year since being on the pump (over 12 year period) some short some long haul and never had an issue.

A few weeks ago I flew from london to nice and my blood sugars had been stable then as I reached a cafe (handily) at Nice airport I realised I was having the mother of all hypos.. I managed to avoid having a fit by having 5 packets of sugar in my small milky coffee (I was ordering the coffee when I realised what was happening) a large coconut macaroon and then a bottle of coke in the car leaving. My mum thought I was ****** when she picked me up from the airport as my speech was slurry but I explained this was actually a hypo (shes seen me have many this was something new without fitting) and when my blood sugar had been around 10 for an hour (it never went higher - after all that sugar it should have gone up a LOT higher) it became apparent it was definitely the hypo..

Now I am very concerned about what happened and what is best practice when flying. Has anyone else had anything simillar and could this have been my pump giving me extra insulin? Thanks
 
Last edited:
I have flown more than 20 times with my pump and never experienced a problem.
I have never used “flight mode” on my pump ... in my many ambling through the pump menus, I have never found a “flight mode”.
Typically, flight mode is used in electronic items, like phones, to stop transmission of any signals which could affect the flight of the plane. Not to protect the electronic items.
Thinking of the atmosphere of the plane (e.g. maintaining air pressure), I cannot think of any think that could affect the dosage of the pump.
And, I don’t know of anything that would affect insulin potency during a flight which would affect anyone who injects insulin when they fly.

But I may be wrong ... it has happened before but don’t tell too many people!
 
Yeah that was my attitude.. I've flows loads in the past 12 years between 1 and 14 hour flights and never had any issues but I did read this somewhere (I'd swear I did lol) I'm going to try and find it.. this might of course be a fake memory of some sorts but the low was SO extreme and so unexplainable I can't help feeling something else happened.. very odd.. will update if I find anything!
 
https://asweetlife.org/what-you-should-know-about-flying-with-an-insulin-pump/

Wow well this makes total sense.. whilst I say I've never had a problem before I often have had lows the first day of my trips and have always attributed it to the heat of wherever I've been.. "Baggage Claim Lows" have also been a common thing (this time I didn't have anything in hold but had I done I would have been waiting for my bags and been in some serious trouble!

I think from now on I'm going to do a complete set change when I get off the plane!
 
I have not noted any problems with interstate flights in Australia and my insulin pump.
Perhaps the altitude changes are not as great compared to internationals ones?
Also there is little or no exercise undertaken during the flight and that plus the stress of take-off and landing all tend to raise my BSLs.
I am not saying that I am ignoring this issue, I just keep it in mind, test BSLs regularly in flight, check pump for air bubbles, and consider altitude changes not only at beginning and end of the fight but during as well.
 
This is just one persons experience on one type of pump. I've flown many many times long haul with my pump and never had any issues.
 
Chas C said:
This is just one persons experience on one type of pump. I've flown many many times long haul with my pump and never had any issues.
Click to expand...

Please read the link its not just me and I've read about it before and after reading the article see that I have had lows after flying and on the first day of holiday or on return but put it down to changes in temp or big time difference.. This is my third pump also.. but the article definitely opened my eyes!
 
ThePenguinPimp said:
Please read the link its not just me and I've read about it before and after reading the article see that I have had lows after flying and on the first day of holiday or on return but put it down to changes in temp or big time difference.. This is my third pump also.. but the article definitely opened my eyes!
Click to expand...

So I'll say it once more, I fly long haul with a pump to Malaysia / Singapore four or more times each year and have never had an issue. I also fly short haul into mostly Europe too and have never had an issue. I closely monitor by BG's using a Dexcom so would indeed notice if things were not right. So I'm just saying turning your pump into flight mode by default may not be the right thing to do....................
 
kitedoc said:
I have not noted any problems with interstate flights in Australia and my insulin pump.
Perhaps the altitude changes are not as great compared to internationals ones?
Click to expand...

The altitude is normally 35,000 to 42,000 feet, be it domestic or international jet flight ... BUT, it does depend on A to B distances. Concorde flights were far higher ... up to 60,000 feet IIRC
 
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