A new study revealed that altitude changes during commercial flights can impact blood glucose levels in individuals with type 1 diabetes using insulin pump therapy due to variations in insulin delivery linked to atmospheric pressure changes.
The research, conducted in Europe’s largest hypobaric chamber, found that cabin pressure changes could lead to increased insulin delivery during ascent and decreased delivery during descent due to air bubble dynamics within the pump.
Ka Siu Fan recommends that insulin pump users temporarily disconnect their pumps before take-off and remove air bubbles upon reaching cruising altitude to prevent potential metabolic issues.
Another study presented at the same meeting linked a “night owl” lifestyle to higher BMI, larger waists, and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, suggesting that lifestyle choices alone do not fully explain the metabolic challenges associated with late chronotypes.
Lead researcher Jeroen van der Velde, of Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands, said: “Previous studies have indicated that a late chronotype – preferring to go to bed late and wake up later – is associated with an unhealthy lifestyle. Late chronotypes are more likely to smoke or have an unhealthy diet. However, we believe that lifestyle cannot fully explain the relationship between a late chronotype and metabolic disorders. In addition, while it is known that a late chronotype is associated with high BMI, it isn’t clear to what extent chronotype affects body fat distribution.”
