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Red Sea in December.

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pippaandben

pippaandben

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
As I understand it high temperatures can make your BG go down - or is it up?!!
Temperature hopefully will be high 70s - probably higher in sun.

Obviously I will be testing but is this effect immediate or does the body take time to acclimatize. Do I just adjust dosage to the meter eg if high in am adjust before dinner dosage? and vice versa?

Have got appt with surgery nurse 3 weeks before we go to get letter for airline and supplies sorted but don't really trust her enough to have very detailed advice. Over to you good folks!!
 
pippaandben said:
As I understand it high temperatures can make your BG go down - or is it up?!!
Temperature hopefully will be high 70s - probably higher in sun.

Obviously I will be testing but is this effect immediate or does the body take time to acclimatize. Do I just adjust dosage to the meter eg if high in am adjust before dinner dosage? and vice versa?

Have got appt with surgery nurse 3 weeks before we go to get letter for airline and supplies sorted but don't really trust her enough to have very detailed advice. Over to you good folks!!
Click to expand...

Hi Pippa, I dont know anything at all about Insulin I am afraid, but I do use Byetta and have just been to Turkey where it was 46 degrees. I did buy a frio bag which was brilliant. I carried my Byetta and a few spare needles in my handbag - and left the rest of the needles in my suitcase.

I did just inject the Byetta at the normal time - but not sure what you would need to do re Insulin.

I obtained a letter re my supplies but to be honest the airports weren't interested at all when I displayed them. I think they see so many. I also had my case searched (always me) and warned the officer that there were needles in the case, but he again said it was fine.

My bs were okay on holiday, but I did fit in a good walk and some swimming each day to help.

One thing though is I am now wondering whether my Byetta pen had gone off in the heat as it doesn't seem to have been having any effect since returning. I started a new pen yesterday and know I am definitely back on it!

I am sure someone will be along to advise more about Insulin soon but thought i would chip in with my first holiday experience with injections.🙂
 
It varies - hot weather increases blood flow to the skin surface which can increase the rate at which your insulin is absorbed. However, some people may find their liver is more active in hot weather. You'll just need to test regularly to keep an eye on things. One particular thing to note is that hot weather makes me thirsty and sometimes this masks a hypo coming on if you've learnt to associate thirst with high BG.

Also just on general travel points, it'll be worth keeping your insulin in a frio pouch, taking extra 'emergency' supplies and keep your insulin in the shade.
 
For me, in tropical weather my insulin requirement goes down. I have a basal rate programme in my pump that is 80% of my normal UK rate. But I think everyone is different, so best to keep testing.

On the other hand, I need more insulin when flying - stress, inactivity, dodgy airline food etc. - so set a temporary basal rate at 120% of normal for the flight. Again I think everyone is different. More testing I'm afraid.

Relax and have a wonderful holiday.
 
So many variables - as well as temperatures in 70s (air temperatures, oF, I assume?), perhaps you'll spend some time in the sea? Summary here: http://www.sharm-el-sheikh.com/General/GeneralDetails/Climate.htm in oC, day air temps, night air temps, seawater temps. 23oC is too inviting not to swim / snorkel / SCUBA dive 🙂

Assuming you're not going to eat only western food, then it's worth learning CHO content of meals such as felafel, whether in pitta bread or on plate with salad etc. After having a Jordanian student living with my family when I was teenager, plus several trips to Jordan, Israel, Turkey, Morocco etc, I love Middle Easten food, whether in Middle East / North Africa / UK / wherever 🙂

Make sure you also check any travel immunisations and / or malaria tablets that you might need - in meantime, Fitfortravel is good for general public in UK - see http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/africa/egypt.aspx
 
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