- βAutomated insulin delivery systems maintained safe, effective blood sugar control during commercial flights, with no serious hypoglycemia or device failures recorded.
| Journal | Diabetes, obesity & metabolism |
| Year | 2026 |
| Authors | Meçani, Basta, Baumann |
| PMID | 41424231 |
| DOI | 10.1111/dom.70404 |
What This Study Found
Researchers tested four popular automated insulin delivery (AID) systems on 20 adults with type 1 diabetes during mid-haul commercial flights. Blood sugar control was at least as good in the air as on the ground β and in some cases slightly better. No one experienced a dangerous low, diabetic ketoacidosis, or any device failure during the flights.
Why This Matters for You
If you use an AID system β sometimes called a closed-loop or artificial pancreas system β you may have wondered whether it's safe to keep it running during a flight. Cabin pressure changes at altitude have raised concerns that pumps might deliver insulin incorrectly. This study offers some reassuring early evidence that these worries may not be as serious as once thought.
Four systems were tested, with five participants each:
- MiniMed 780G
- Omnipod 5
- Control-IQ
- CamAPS FX with YpsoPump
What the Numbers Showed
Researchers tracked several standard blood sugar benchmarks. Here's how in-flight compared to on the ground:
- Time in Range (70β180 mg/dL): 88.2% in-flight vs. 82.1% on the ground
- Time Above Range: 7.1% in-flight vs. 12.0% on the ground
- Time Below Range (dangerous lows): 4.7% in-flight vs. 5.9% on the ground
Participants did use slightly more insulin during flights β mostly from meal boluses β but this did not cause problems. None of the 20 participants had a level 2 hypoglycemic episode (blood sugar below 54 mg/dL), which is the threshold considered clinically serious.
What to Keep in Mind
This was a small pilot study with only 20 participants, and the flights were mid-haul (not ultra-long-haul). The results are promising, but researchers are clear that larger, multi-center studies are needed before strong clinical guidelines can be updated. Every person's diabetes management is different, so always check with your diabetes care team before making changes to how you manage your AID system during travel.
Practical Takeaways for Travelers
- Your AID system likely does not need to be turned off during flights, but confirm this with your doctor
- Bring backup supplies including manual insulin delivery options
- Pack extra CGM sensors, pump supplies, and batteries in your carry-on
- Meal timing on flights can be unpredictable β be ready to adjust boluses
- Check current airline and device manufacturer guidelines, as policies can vary
β Key Takeaway
Automated insulin delivery systems maintained safe, effective blood sugar control during commercial flights, with no serious hypoglycemia or device failures recorded.
Planning travel with diabetes takes preparation. At mdsdiabetes.com, you'll find AID-compatible supplies, CGM accessories, and travel-ready diabetes management products to help you stay in control wherever you're headed.
Full Citation
Meçani, Basta, Baumann (2026). In-flight glycaemic control using automated insulin delivery systems: A within-subject comparative pilot study. Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism. PMID: 41424231. DOI: 10.1111/dom.70404