Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us
Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network
Home
Discussion Groups
General
GeneralCardiologyVisionDentistryPharmacyLaboratoryNutritionAlternative
Diseases and Disorders
AIDSAlzheimer'sArthritisAsthmaCancerBreast CancerDiabetesEpilepsyGlaucomaHepatitisHerpesLupusProstate BPHProstate CancerProstatitisSinusitisTinnitus

Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Diabetes / March 2006

Tip: Looking for answers? Try searching our database.

Overseas travel, insulin, dawn phenomenon

Thread view: 
Enable EMail Alerts  Start New Thread
Thread rating: 
tpub - 03 Mar 2006 17:53 GMT
Hi all,

I'm an infrequent reader, even less frequent poster here.

Simple question, I hope:

I have a pretty bad problem with Dawn Phenomenon. My insulin to carb
ratio at lunch and dinner is 1:22, but at breakfast it's more like 1:10
or 1:8. My question is: Will this change when I cross a lot of time
zones?

In May I'll be traveling from the U.S. to Italy, and staying there for
3 weeks. Will I experience my DP when I wake up, so my breakfast ratio
will still be 1:8? Or will I experience it later in the day?

FYI: I have type 1.5/LADA. No problem with insulin resistance, other
than the DP. Take Novolog at meals, no long-acting insulin, since I
still produce some of my own.

Thanks in advance,
Tina
Owlyn - 03 Mar 2006 19:53 GMT
Everyone is different, so your question has no definite answer. In my two
trips to Italy, I did not experience problems other than the normal problems
for me. I would suggest being concervative with your insulin on the flight
(take slightly less than you would normally)- you don't want to go hypo
during the flight, plus you can't really tell what the heck they are serving
you. There have been articles written describing how to change your insulin
timing as you move east, but I found it worked just to take a little less
than I normally would with meals while on the plane. The bigger problem will
be the amount of carbs you eat once you get to Italy. The food is fantastic.
You pretty much have to go out of your way to get a less than excellent
meal, but they all involve pasta or rice (risotto). Ans the gelato is
incredible, too, especially in Florence. BTW, gelato is not high in fat, so
there is very little slowing of absorption as there is with ice cream. Bring
extra insulin - you'll need it.

> Hi all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> Thanks in advance,
> Tina
tpub - 05 Mar 2006 14:54 GMT
Owlyn,

Thanks for your reply. I was actually intending to take a bit more
insulin during the plane trip b/c I'm usually very active during the
day. But I'll be with my husband and will have glucose tabs, so I think
I'll be fine.

I'm very much looking forward to the food (and the wine!). One of the
main reasons for wanting to know about my DP is b/c all the hotels seem
to offer free breakfasts that are almost 100% carbs (pastries, fruit,
etc.). Not one has mentioned meat, cheese, eggs, etc. With my DP that
would be a disastrous breakfast! I guess I'll just have to wait and see
what happens.

Thanks again,
Tina
Owlyn - 06 Mar 2006 01:11 GMT
The breakfasts are worse (better!) than you think. They use Nutella as we
use jelly, and lemme tell ya- that Nutella on rolls is gooooooood. But it is
VERY fattening and high in carb (it's made from hazelnuts and sugar). Look
up Nutella now so you know how many carbs it has. BTW, where in Italy are
you going?

> Owlyn,
>
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> Thanks again,
> Tina
Pete Romfh - 04 Mar 2006 05:22 GMT
> Hi all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> insulin to carb ratio at lunch and dinner is 1:22, but at
> breakfast it's more like 1:10 or 1:8. My question is: Will this change
when I cross a lot of time
> zones?
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> Thanks in advance,
> Tina

I'm not on insulin yet but I just got back from a 10-day trip to India.
Take a look at my post on Jet-Lag for some of my experience.
It isn't just being in another time zone, it's like a whole other world.
Take two meters (one in carry on and one packed) and plenty of strips.
Testing supplies weren't readily apparent in any of the stores we visited
there so I was glad I had a lot.

Just a tip on a travel BG meter. I carried a "Sidekick" disposable meter in
my carry-on. It's the size of a 35mm film can and worked like a champ the
whole trip. The meter and 50 tests were $30 US (at Walgreens) and well worth
it for the convenience.

Signature

Pete Romfh, Telecom Geek & Amateur Gourmet.
http://www.bigoven.com/~promfh
promfh (at) hal-pc (dot) org

tpub - 05 Mar 2006 14:57 GMT
Hi Pete,

Read your post. Hope you had a good trip. Do you mind me asking where
in Texas you live? I'm near New Orleans (Metairie).

I was considering buying a backup meter. I'll look into the Sidekick.
Thanks for the tip!

-Tina
Pete Romfh - 05 Mar 2006 16:39 GMT
> Hi Pete,
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> -Tina

I'm in Houston which is ,only through a trick of politics, part of the Texas
Republic.
Geographically (and culturally) it's more like Western Lousiana.

Have a wonderful trip.

Signature

Pete Romfh, Telecom Geek & Amateur Gourmet.
http://www.bigoven.com/~promfh
promfh (at) hal-pc (dot) org

 
Sign In
Join
My Latest Posts
My Monitored Threads
My Blog
My Photo Gallery
My Profile
My Homepage

Start New Thread
Enable EMail Alerts
Rate this Thread



©2008 Advenet LLC   Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.