Planning to travel?
This information covers your journey, time zone changes, while you are away, travelling with an insulin pump or a continuous glucose monitoring system and also includes Frequently Asked Questions.
Travel Advice:
The Journey:
Time Zone Changes:
Insulin Regime |
Traveling West (Longer Day) |
Traveling East (Shorter day) |
Once daily long acting (e.g Lantus, Humulin I, Degludec) |
Keep to UK time during the journey. Once you arrive at your destination move injection to usual time (e.g bedtime) |
|
Twice daily mixed insulin (e.g. Humulin M3, Humalog Mix 25, Humalog Mix 50, NovoMix 30) |
Take your normal morning and evening insulin whilst travelling. Take half usual insulin dose with a meal when you arrive. |
Take your normal morning and evening insulin whilst travelling. |
Once or twice daily long acting insulin (e.g. Lantus, Levemir, Degludec) + rapid acting insulin with meals (e.g. Humalog, Apidra, NovoRapid) |
Take rapid acting insulin with any meal containing carbohydrate. If you take once daily long acting insulin keep to UK time for journey. Once at destination move to a convenient time, but if this is greater than 12 hours since your last injection you may need to give a small amount of rapid acting insulin to control blood glucose levels |
Take rapid acting insulin with any meal containing carbohydrate. If you take once daily long acting insulin keep to UK time for journey. Once at destination move to a convenient time but if this is shorter than 12 hours since your last injection you may need to give a smaller amount of your rapid acting insulin with your last meal. |
If you inject long acting insulin twice daily keep injections roughly 12 hours apart |
While you are away:
Pumps and CGMS:
Websites such as www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk can help you with this information. Alternatively seek advice from your Practice Nurse.
www.voyagemd.com is a useful resource. You can also see the Diabetes Specialist Nurses or your Practice Nurse for further advice.
FRIO bags are activated by cold water and keep insulin cool for up to 45 hours. They can be purchased from www.friouk.com and come in a variety of sizes.
Often packaging states not suitable for those with diabetes. If you have problems with your circulation or have any ulcers/wounds on your legs or feet please seek advice prior to using them. If you have no circulatory problems and your legs and feet are generally healthy, using flights socks is unlikely to do any harm.
Contacting the insulin manufacturer is the best way to obtain this information.