Air travel disrupts insulin pumps.
A recent study suggests that diabetics using insulin pumps may experience lower-than-normal blood sugar levels while flying. Researchers found that altitude changes can affect how insulin pumps deliver the hormone, potentially leading to uneven insulin delivery during a flight. These findings were presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes annual meeting in Madrid.
Dr. Ka Siu Fan from the University of Surrey in the U.K., who led the research, emphasized the importance of diabetics being aware of how cabin air pressure changes can impact insulin delivery. In the study, 26 insulin pumps were tested in a hypobaric chamber that simulated the pressure changes during a typical commercial flight. The chamber was depressurized to an altitude of 8,000 feet during a 20-minute ascent, maintained that pressure for 30 minutes, and then re-pressurized during a 20-minute descent.
The results showed that insulin pumps tended to over-deliver insulin during ascent, which could lower blood sugar but not enough to cause severe hypoglycemia. During descent, however, the pumps under-delivered insulin, which could lead to higher blood sugar levels. Neither of these fluctuations posed immediate health risks under normal circumstances.
Fan explained that the formation of air bubbles in the insulin cartridge during ascent could push extra insulin out of the pump, while during descent, increasing air pressure might dissolve the bubbles and draw insulin back into the pump. In the event of a rapid cabin decompression, however, there could be a dangerous insulin overdose, posing a significant risk of hypoglycemia. In such situations, consuming fast-acting carbohydrates would be necessary to counter the sudden drop in blood sugar.
Fan recommended that diabetics using insulin pumps consider temporarily disconnecting the pump before takeoff and ensuring air bubbles are removed before reconnecting it at cruising altitude to avoid unintended blood sugar fluctuations. Individual responses to altitude changes may vary depending on factors like insulin sensitivity, diet, and blood sugar management.
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