Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 08:30 - 19:00 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
Coronavirus FAQs
Questions about Coronavirus? Click here for more information. Please note that due to exceptional circumstances our opening hours are currently 09:00 to 17:30 Monday to Friday. We apologise for any inconvenience.
13 September 2011 11:49
Diabetes patients should view a recent study on in-flight use of insulin pumps with scepticism, an expert says
A medical expert has cast doubts on recent claims that air passengers with diabetes may end up injecting the wrong amount of insulin because of pressure changes inside a plane.
A recent study published in the peer-reviewed Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics journal reported that insulin pumps when used in conditions of changing atmospheric pressure may end up delivering incorrect levels of the hormone.
Research simulated aircraft conditions within a hypobaric chamber, with a small number of type 1 diabetes patients participating in the experiment.
In an editorial published in the journal, Irl B Hirsch, a professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine said the data was not sufficient to draw such broad conclusions.
The findings could potentially explain why patients who use the pumps see changes in their blood glucose levels, but variations in insulin amounts delivered during the simulation tests were only marginal, he said.
It is advisable for diabetes sufferers to take out a medical travel insurance and take good care while travelling, but Dr Hirsch says it would be unwise to panic about using insulin pumps in-flight based on the small-scale research.
"This study was implemented in such a small number of people that large conclusions may not be justified... It is possible the authors overreacted in their recommendations," he said.
28 February 2020
Keep your carbon footprint in check and travel green with our eco-friendly travel tips.
[more...]
25 February 2020
For true carefree travel, decide on a destination that's kinder to the planet...
20 February 2020
Travel into the future and not just through time-zones, with destinations shaping urban living.
National Anthem Day falls on the 3rd March, so what better excuse is there to delve into into the world of music and motherland?
Discover five alternative places to get down on one knee this leap year.
Two-wheels are better than none. Check out our favourite cities best explored from a saddle.
04 February 2020
Make your phone the perfect travel companion for the new year...
Bohemian boulevards and ornate opera houses await away from the Six Nations action.
Kite Flying Day falls on 8th February. What better time is there to plan your next trip through the skies?
10 February 2020
With Ferris Wheel Day on 14th February, there's never been a better excuse to enjoy a foreign skyline.
Looking for a Valentine's getaway but want to avoid the clichés? Try one these alternative romantic destinations...
27 January 2020
With ancient architecture and marble marvels at every turn, there are plenty of reasons to get onside with our plans away from the rugby in Rome.