Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by TS on November 27, 2010 at 9:59am

Traveled to France once and England once on shots, and Germany, Scotland... a few other places on the pump. I'd like to be flippant and tell you to get a pump, but I won't.
1) as soon as wheels are up on the airplane, it is whatever time it is at your final destination, act that way immediately. Set your watch and your shot schedule accordingly. I assume you will be leaving early in the morning, but that will be evening in your final destination, so don't take your full Lantus shot, take a smaller one. You might want to take 3/4 of one the night before you leave, the 1/4 "nighttime" at your new location. This really is going to be your only problem. Do your best to set your brain as well.
2) test often the first 2 days, more for the jet lag than anything else
3) test often if your activity is very different
4) don't worry and have fun!

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Permalink Reply by Marsha Paulsen Peters on November 28, 2010 at 6:27am

Thanks for your ideas! re: # 1) that makes the most sense to me too, and is what I and husband have always done for internat'l and domestic travels (and stay up until the next {foreign} bedtime) so it is the online advice (several sources) of keeping one's watch set to the home-clock which confuses me. Wouldn't keeping the hometime just delay the adjustments by one day? anyway, Thanks. I think I'll switch to the new time immed as we've done and you've suggested here.

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Permalink Reply by Hope on November 27, 2010 at 10:24am

I went to Europe on Lantus/Humalog,and adjusting the lantus was tricky. I took one shot of lantus usually around 11PM. In the weeks before, I started moving it forward by one hour each night, so that by the time I left I was taking it around 4PM my time, which I think was 11PM over there. I tested more, especially at night. Control was maybe not as good as usual, but all was fine overall. I did bring a big supply of glucose tabs, etc. Have fun!

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Permalink Reply by Marsha Paulsen Peters on November 28, 2010 at 6:28am

Thanks! ya, nighttime totallyLOWS is what I've found before, and crashed, so I indeed need check BG more at night/ night-day/ whatever, until adjustment happens. Luckily we've got a few days in Germany for relaxing before the more strenuous schedule in Jerusalem. A ton of glucose tabs is a great idea. Will do.

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Permalink Reply by Anthony Holko on November 27, 2010 at 12:59pm

The lantus is simple I take 2 shots per day every 12 hours and just keep doing that based on the time at home. The humalog I guess you use the same insulin/carb ratio as at home. Eating low carb is a good idea as it makes control more predictable. We went to Turkey with daytime highs of 90 F and I kept the insulins in a Frio bag in the tour bus and it did not spoil.

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Permalink Reply by Marsha Paulsen Peters on November 28, 2010 at 6:33am

Thanks for reply! I'm planning to add more protein and fats to 'keep' my carbs more level. Luckily, winter in Munich and Jerusalem will keep my insulins happy and not cooked. I'm putting a spare set of vials, etc,etc, in cargo JUST IN CASE I somehow get separated from my Carry-on Always kept meds; anyone had vials explode (or freeze) in cargo area?
Or maybe having my husband carry the spares in HIS carry-on makes more sense ... Hmmm.

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Permalink Reply by Gerri on November 28, 2010 at 11:20am

Do not put your insulin in checked luggage! It will freeze & also be subjected to stronger X-rays through security. Much more likely for checked luggage to be lost.

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Permalink Reply by Marsha Paulsen Peters on November 29, 2010 at 6:35am

Thank you -- I needed that input. I've put it in the checked bag before and YAH, I think it lost some quality. I hadn't thought about the xray effect -- honestly! I'll ask John (husband) to carry-on the spares.
Really - I Much like hearing from a community of folk WITH diabetes re: daily realities. (I tire of advice from those not living it.) So thank YOU Colleagues for your expertise on real stuff.

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Permalink Reply by Kristin on November 27, 2010 at 1:20pm

I have done multiple trips to Europe from the USA on injections. It takes some planning and some extra blood sugar checks, but it certainly can be done!

By my estimate you will be going 7 hours ahead in terms of time zone. If you will be awake 7 hours AFTER you usually take your Lantus, then you could just switch and take the Lantus in the morning while you are there.

When I traveled across times zones, then I started adjusting my Lantus a few days in advance. I would take it 1-2 hours earlier than usual and just be sure to check for lows during the night. So if you usually take it at 11pm, then take it at 10 pm one night, 9 pm the next, 8 pm then next night, ... then by the time that you get to Israel, you should be taking your Lantus at your usual time (Israel time).

Always take twice as many supplies as you need. I use Frio wallets for keeping my insulin cool while I travel. I love them.

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Permalink Reply by Marsha Paulsen Peters on November 28, 2010 at 6:42am

Thanks -- good ideas for me to consider. In the six Europe trips we've done I always seem to have trouble 1.) in the stress/ rush of airports and 2.) during nighttimes. We're flying late at night. So 'nighttimes' can be flexing with 'daytimes' (old and new times) until things settle clockwise! And I/ we insist now on enough time for airport connection times so I'm not as run-stressed. I'm currently working with insurance co, etc, for vacation-exemption for doubling all my meds. And I need get a couple Frio wallets; I lost the cooler-pac part of my old one ... (sheesh.)

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Permalink Reply by Gerri on November 27, 2010 at 11:24pm

Also take an extra meter & extra batteries. Batteries die at the most inopportune time. I travel with all my prescriptions, just in case, & lots of jelly beans because glucose tabs are too bulky. Like Kristin, I love Frio wallets. I pack double the amount of insulin (in carry-on), syringes & strips.

I don't have a pump. I take two doses of Levemir & not 12 hours apart. One in the morning & another before bed. I've only taken international flights departing at night. So, I take 1/2 dose of Levemir at night while on the plane & then the usual dose upon arriving in the morning. For returning morning flights back home, I haven't done much basal adjustment. Sorry, not helpful to you taking one dose of Lantus.

I immediately get on local time with sleeping & meals. Usually exhausted the first day from lack of sleep, but then fine after that.

Have fun!

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Permalink Reply by Marsha Paulsen Peters on November 28, 2010 at 6:48am

Thanks -- good ideas. I have the 2nd meter but hadn't thought of spare batteries! Great reminder; thanks. I'm a one-lantus-at-bedtime gal and, ya, will travel east the overnight method. We always stay up til the new country's next sleeptime and walk-walk-walk in the sunshine to help adjust and force ourselves to not sleep til then. Tricky but possible.

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