A Dual Stable Isotope Study of the Effect of Altitude and Simulated Flight on Glucose Metabolism in Type 1 Diabetes: A Randomized Crossover Study
The effects of acute atmospheric pressure changes on glucose metabolism in type 1 diabetes remain controversial and may have safety implications for pilots and travelers alike. What are the differences in glucose kinetics and hormones between ground and simulated flight environments? Glucose disposal and insulin concentration are increased in response to a meal during flight, without associated changes in endogenous glucose production or meal glucose appearance rates. Pressure-related changes in insulin pump performance and hypoxia may explain these findings. Because glucose concentrations were unaffected, there is no evidence that insulin pump therapy is a risk factor in flight.
Authors
- A. Margot Umpleby (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6147-7919)
- Agnieszka Falinska
- Monika Cigler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5827-7991)
- Ahmad Haidar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6700-0385)
- Fereshteh Jeivad
- Ka Siu Fan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0861-1944)
- Thomas Rudolf Pieber (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3554-0405)
- Julia Katharina Mader (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7854-4233)
- Ewan J. Hutchison
- Felice Strollo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8917-5314)
- Fiona Sammut (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4605-9185)
- Victoria Edwards (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3314-0013)
- Richard Helsdingen
- Zosanglura Bawlchhim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8783-1955)
- Gerd Koehler
- Chantal Mathieu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4055-5233)
- Stuart Mitchell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3757-0893)
- Monique Borg Inguanez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3496-7132)
- Vivienne Lee
- Graham Roberts (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5018-0391)
- Elisabeth M. W. Eekhoff (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5399-676X)
- Renald Meçani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2697-8544)
- David Russell‐Jones (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9490-2480)
- Fariba Shojaee‐Moradie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3514-0447)
- Gerd Köhler
- Antonios Manoli
Institutions
- Qinetiq (United Kingdom) (GB)
- University of Malta (MT)
- Medical University of Graz (AT)
- Civil Aviation Authority (GB)
- Royal Surrey County Hospital (GB)
- University of Surrey (GB)
- McGill University (CA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Diabetes
- Published
- 2025-05-28
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.2337/db25-0004
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- High Altitude and Hypoxia
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.82