USA and Lantus

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New-journey

New-journey

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I am very excited to be flying on Saturday to Arizona and then Colorado, 8 hours difference. It is for work but intending to have days of hiking and days to relax.
I am gone for 2 weeks so thinking the sensor will end once I am in the train going home, ideally I would then have another sensor but for now not possible.
So question, I arrive at 5 30 which is 1 30am UK time and will go to bed at 9pm (5am) if I can stay awake. I could take half my dose of lantus then and then in the morning (12 hours later) go back to normal dose? Or do I just take my lantus every 24 hours and ignore the time difference?
Thanks and know many of you travel around the world effortlessly!
 
New-journey said:
I am very excited to be flying on Saturday to Arizona and then Colorado, 8 hours difference. It is for work but intending to have days of hiking and days to relax.
I am gone for 2 weeks so thinking the sensor will end once I am in the train going home, ideally I would then have another sensor but for now not possible.
So question, I arrive at 5 30 which is 1 30am UK time and will go to bed at 9pm (5am) if I can stay awake. I could take half my dose of lantus then and then in the morning (12 hours later) go back to normal dose? Or do I just take my lantus every 24 hours and ignore the time difference?
Thanks and know many of you travel around the world effortlessly!
Click to expand...
Ooh, jealous! We're just putting a trip to some of the National Parks, but not til next May! So is is something a I'll have to work out in due course too. This thread is useful
https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/holiday-time-difference.64838/
even though it's dealing with Levemir. The one thing I wouldn't do is a half dose and then a full dose 12 hours later, you'll end up with one and a half times the amount going into your system during the overlap.
 
Robin said:
Ooh, jealous! We're just putting a trip to some of the National Parks, but not til next May! So is is something a I'll have to work out in due course too. This thread is useful
https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/holiday-time-difference.64838/
even though it's dealing with Levemir. The one thing I wouldn't do is a half dose and then a full dose 12 hours later, you'll end up with one and a half times the amount going into your system during the overlap.
Click to expand...

Oh that is helpful, Thanks. Enjoy your trip, sounds amazing!
so worked out the 2 hour shift for being there, is it correct? Will then have a go at coming home! I normally take Lantus at 8am.

Day 1: take it at 6 am UK (10pm US)
Day 2: take it at 4am UK (8 pm US)
Day 3: take it at 2 am UK (6pm US)
Day 4: take it at 12 am UK (4 pm US)
Day 5: take it at 10pm UK (2 pm US) - t
Day 6: take it at 8 pm UK (12pm US)
Day 7 take it at 6 pm UK (10am US)
Day 8 take it at 4pm UK (8am US)
Day 9 take it 4pm UK (8am US)
Day 10 - 14 same.
 
Coming home, Is this right?
Day 1: take it at 6 am US (2pm UK)
Day 2: take it at 4 am US (12 pm UK)
Day 3: take it at 2 am US (10am UK)
Day 4: take it at 12 am US (8am UK)
Then back to normal!
 
The timings sound right. The only problems I can think of are
1.remembering, ( are you likely to be busy and in the middle of something you can't break off, or will it be inconvenient to have to carry your Lantus pen with you as well as your Bolus?)
2. If your Lantus gives you a steady line most of the time, you'll be Ok taking it at unfamiliar times of day.
If, like me, it has a pronounced peak and a tail off, and you've worked out that breakfast time is the best time of day to tailor it to your own body, then taking it at different times of day may give you a peak or dip when you don't expect it.
 
I admire people who commit to the gentle phasing approach, but I have always taken a more pragmatic approach to this. I figure my body clock adjusts to 'local time' fairly rapidly, and travel days for me are always full of imponderables (unguessable food, carting luggage around, stress etc)

So I switch to 'local time' of my destination on the plane, both there and back, and firefight the highs / lows for 24 hours. Very easy on a pump, but with Lantus I'd either just jump in, or might consider a half dose if there were a load of overlap.

Enjoy your trip!
 
Hi I've just got back from Canada today. 5 and 7 hr time difference. We have done trips to Canada and USA a few times. I'm on Levemir and have no experience of lantus. However, when I was on once a day Levemir I was advised to do the following...stick with me..so for example arrive lunchtime ish (Toronto / New York for example, 5 hrs behind uk) at the equivalent of 10pm GMT i.e. 5pm local, I'd have a small percentage, usually about 3-4 units of levemir to take me up to 10pm local time, then take normal night time dose, then back to normal next day. Coming home I'd shorten the dose, this has always worked well for me. Slightly different now, first trip I've had on twice a day levemir, so winging it a little. Last night had usual dose and then in a minute I'll have half or less of my usual daytime dose. Some people advise covering a small gap with fast acting. Lots of conflicting advice about.

I was also a told by DSN to look at diabetestravel.org, with its insulin calculator, this might help. However you always seem like a knowledgeable person, you know yourself best and sometimes just go with what you think.

As our bodies have to deal with different time, different food, activity and the usual diabetes unexplainables lots of testing is key....as is having a fantastic time! 🙂
 
Ive never understood the 'take half a dose to last you 12 hours' approach. Surely basal doesn't work like that. Half a dose means half the amount of insulin, but active in your system for 24 hrs. So if you then take your full dose 12 hrs later, you've got one full dose and half a dose both active at the same time for the next 12 hours after that.
When I decided to experiment with taking Lantus in the evening instead of the morning, I just winged it like Mike, and covered the gap with extra short acting.
 
Well @Robin, I'm not sure it would work out exactly, but smaller doses do tend to have a shorter duration than larger ones. So I guess that's why some people do it that way?
 
I know exactly what you mean Robin, I've had plenty of conversations with DSNs recently where I've said that makes no sense...is it the strength or the time it lasts? Actually, this time I was advised to take half night time dose at GMT and half at local time. Both have worked for me, so although I don't understand why, it works for me personally. So many outside factors affecting control on travel days testing, testing a bit more testing and mostly winging it...has worked so far....and me constantly saying "so what time is it?".
 
Lisa66 said:
Hi I've just got back from Canada today. 5 and 7 hr time difference. We have done trips to Canada and USA a few times. I'm on Levemir and have no experience of lantus. However, when I was on once a day Levemir I was advised to do the following...stick with me..so for example arrive lunchtime ish (Toronto / New York for example, 5 hrs behind uk) at the equivalent of 10pm GMT i.e. 5pm local, I'd have a small percentage, usually about 3-4 units of levemir to take me up to 10pm local time, then take normal night time dose, then back to normal next day. Coming home I'd shorten the dose, this has always worked well for me. Slightly different now, first trip I've had on twice a day levemir, so winging it a little. Last night had usual dose and then in a minute I'll have half or less of my usual daytime dose. Some people advise covering a small gap with fast acting. Lots of conflicting advice about.

I was also a told by DSN to look at diabetestravel.org, with its insulin calculator, this might help. However you always seem like a knowledgeable person, you know yourself best and sometimes just go with what you think.

As our bodies have to deal with different time, different food, activity and the usual diabetes unexplainables lots of testing is key....as is having a fantastic time! 🙂
Click to expand...
This seems more simple than the two hour plan, will look at the insulin calculator now.
Thanks, actually think I know very little, but will have my sensor on so can test all the time. I will in the end just do what feels right, will share what happens! 🙂
 
Robin said:
The timings sound right. The only problems I can think of are
1.remembering, ( are you likely to be busy and in the middle of something you can't break off, or will it be inconvenient to have to carry your Lantus pen with you as well as your Bolus?)
2. If your Lantus gives you a steady line most of the time, you'll be Ok taking it at unfamiliar times of day.
If, like me, it has a pronounced peak and a tail off, and you've worked out that breakfast time is the best time of day to tailor it to your own body, then taking it at different times of day may give you a peak or dip when you don't expect it.
Click to expand...
Yes, great points, I was thinking that too. It will make my life difficult and I do have a steady line most of the time but that may change if I take it at different times. Lots to think about. Thanks.
 
One tip that makes calculating dose times when travelling across time zones: a digital watch with dual time function, so you can leave one time on home time and the other on local time. Also helps in case you need to contact someone in home time zone.
 
I can't advise about the lantus but wanted to say have a great time.
 
New-journey said:
This seems more simple than the two hour plan, will look at the insulin calculator now.
Thanks, actually think I know very little, but will have my sensor on so can test all the time. I will in the end just do what feels right, will share what happens! 🙂
Click to expand...

Hi again.
I just wanted to emphasise that this worked for me on levemir and an initial 5hr time difference. I don't know about lantus, but I know that I would confuse my small brain on the 2 hr plan. 🙂 It's worth giving your DSN or clinic a call, as they're used to working this out for people...although mine got thoroughly confused with the details for coming back to uk overnight, with 7hr time difference, which is why I ended up doing what I did, which seems to have worked. Libre sensor brilliant for travelling! ... now I just need to crack this jet lag business o_O
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
I admire people who commit to the gentle phasing approach, but I have always taken a more pragmatic approach to this. I figure my body clock adjusts to 'local time' fairly rapidly, and travel days for me are always full of imponderables (unguessable food, carting luggage around, stress etc)

So I switch to 'local time' of my destination on the plane, both there and back, and firefight the highs / lows for 24 hours. Very easy on a pump, but with Lantus I'd either just jump in, or might consider a half dose if there were a load of overlap.

Enjoy your trip!
Click to expand...
I'm with you on this Mike. Life's too short for all this two hour shifting malarky.

I was in Arizona in August en route to Wyoming for the solar eclipse. Wonderful time, but b***** hot in August - 47 deg C. Have a great time New-journey!
 
Lisa66 said:
Hi again.
I just wanted to emphasise that this worked for me on levemir and an initial 5hr time difference. I don't know about lantus, but I know that I would confuse my small brain on the 2 hr plan. 🙂 It's worth giving your DSN or clinic a call, as they're used to working this out for people...although mine got thoroughly confused with the details for coming back to uk overnight, with 7hr time difference, which is why I ended up doing what I did, which seems to have worked. Libre sensor brilliant for travelling! ... now I just need to crack this jet lag business o_O
Click to expand...
I feel the same as you, my small brain would get confused with the two hour changes! My DSN is a little useless, ends up needing me to make her feel ok with my low HbA1C. I did ask her and she didn't know what I should do! She knows I have this forum so suggested I ask here. I am so happy I have the Libre sensor, will make it much easier. I think I will do something similar to you. I will share how it goes, getting excited now.
 
m1dnc said:
I'm with you on this Mike. Life's too short for all this two hour shifting malarky.

I was in Arizona in August en route to Wyoming for the solar eclipse. Wonderful time, but b***** hot in August - 47 deg C. Have a great time New-journey!
Click to expand...
I agree, giving up any idea of two hour changes! How wonderful to be there for the solar eclipse though very hot. Weather will be wonderful I think. So how did you manage your basal?
 
Hi NJ ~ sorry no advice to give you except stay safe on your travels ~ here's a map in case you get lost out there! xx
The Tueshaus Family - USA Routes.jpg
 
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