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Advice while on holiday

V

vikkistent

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Hi
Just joined today, hope you are all good? I just wanted to know if anyone suffers from really high sugars in the morning when on holiday abroad? I don’t drink and eat pretty healthy, and never experienced this before? Thanks Vikki
 
Hi and welcome Vikki.

Can you tell us a bit about how you manage your diabetes ie. MDI or a pump and if the latter which pump and are you using it as a hybrid closed loop (HCL). Also which insulin(s) do you use and which CGM ie Libre or Dexcom?

How high are you going and is this before or after breakfast?

How different is your morning routine on holiday compared to at home?

For instance :-

Do you wake up later when on holiday?

Are you having later evening meals on holiday than you would at home and perhaps richer food? Estimating carbs in unfamiliar food can be tricky and if you are eating food which is richer (perhaps more fat) then that can certainly mean that levels rise overnight whilst you sleep and you can wake up high. (often referred to on the forum as Pizza effect)

Are you more or less active on holiday.... perhaps you are relaxing by the pool and reading rather than being on your feet half the day at work?

Have you changed time zones significantly which might affect your basal insulin?

Those are just a few things that come to mind straight away.


I almost never go on holiday so I can't really respond to your precise question but I do have to adjust my basal insulin doses regularly to account for changes in activity and routine when I am at home, so I know that can make a significant difference. I think there are probably many people who never even consider changing their basal insulin dose(s) and just inject whatever dose their nurse has told them, but learning to do so can mean you can fine tune your diabetes management better.
 
Hi and welcome.
There is something called the "Dawn Phenomenom" and/or "Foot on the Floor" syndrome, where your BG rises as your body recognises that you have just got up and you are moving around. Some people take a BG reading whilst still in bed before getting up and moving around.
Edit, not sure if this only affects T1 or T2 or both?
 
This isn't much help I know but when I go abroad I experience low blood sugar, particularly after the evening meal. As we usually self cater I know exactly what I am eating. It always happens and I can't explain it beyond maybe taking more exercise as a result of being on holiday. The only thing I can suggest in your case is that you may be eating more carbs than you think especially if you are eating in restaurants where they may be concealed.
 
Hi
Thank you for the replies, I really appreciate it. I am on the omnipod pump and Dexcom, the insulin I have is novarapid. I still do my exercise in the morning and for the first two days of my holiday it was fine? I will look at adjusting my basal as I have done that in the past. But I really appreciate the responses
 
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