Have Insulin, Will Fly: Diabetes Management During Air Travel and Time Zone Adjustment Strategies.

This article provides some recommendations on managing diabetes during air travel. 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. 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. Ideally, patients who are planning overseas travel should schedule an office visit with their health care provider at least four to six weeks before departure so as to assess their patients' current level of diabetes control, to give specific advice regarding diabetes management and prevention of acute complications. Patients should obtain a travel itinerary showing departure and arrival times, durations of flights, and time differences between the points of embarkation and disembarkation. It is also helpful to find out beforehand the serving time of meals. All medications and supplies should be carried by the patient. Insulin is stable under normal conditions at airport terminals and passenger security check points and when passing through X-ray machines.