Ways to manage travelling between time zones
Time Zones
One way to deal with time zones is to keep taking your background insulin at the same time if practical to do so (UK time). Another strategy is to change the time of your background insulin by 1-2 hours each day in the week before you go until you make up the time difference.
If you travel west, the 24 hour day is extended, so cover these extra hours by taking rapid-acting insulin with food. Then take your background insulin at your usual time, in the arrival time zone.
When travelling east, the day is shortened. Take rapid-acting insulin with meals and a reduced dose of your background insulin at your normal time, in your departure time zone. Then take your normal background dose at your usual time
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T1 Diabetic 66 yrs. Visit family in US and NZ. I inject basal at normal time on day of departure whatever the take off time. I keep to UK time until we land and use actrapid to control extra carbs. . Lack of exercise means hourly BS tests using Abbott and maybe adjusting the insulin ratio to carb content. Don’t bother with diabetic meals, they are laden with carb so eat the protein and self regulate carbs in “normal” meals. Adopt new time zone on arrival with basal dose given in US/NZ morning as in UK. Always carry Dextrose and biscuits for emergency use/delays etc.
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When I holidayed in California I kept to similar evening times but on USA time zone and back to normal when I was home
I went to NZ and kept a watch on UK time. I then took my Basal insulin at the same UK time as at home.
This seemed to work as I was only away for 3 weeks.
never travelled to need this but nice to know
I travelled to Australia, The advice is pretty much what my nurse told me, it was not to bad but the jet lag was terrible, and I had some highs and lows because my routine had changed so much.