Impairments in glycemic control during Eastbound transatlantic travel in healthy adults

Repeated bouts of circadian misalignment impair glucose tolerance. However, whether circadian misalignment associated with travel and jet lag impair glucose homeostasis in a free-living population is not known. The goal of the present study was to examine glycemic control during one week of Eastbound transatlantic travel in healthy men and women.

Seven healthy participants (5 women; age: 35.6 ± 2.5 years, BMI: 23.9 ± 2.4 m/kg²) traveled from Colorado, USA (GMT-7) to Europe (GMT and GMT+1) and wore a continuous glucose monitor (Freestyle Libre Pro) for 8-14 days before, during, and after travel. Indices of glycemic control were summarized over 24-hour periods and by day and night.

Mean glucose, peak glucose, and time spent in hyperglycemia increased linearly throughout the travel period relative to baseline levels. Mean glucose concentrations rose 1.03 mg/dL (95% CI: 0.34, 1.74) and duration of hyperglycemia increased by 17 min (95% CI: 5.5, 28.6) each 24-hour period. Increases in 24-hour glucose were primarily driven by increases in daytime parameters with rising mean glucose (0.72 mg/dL per day, [95% CI: -0.1, 1.5]) and duration of hyperglycemia (13.2 min per day [95% CI: 4.3, 22.1]). Mean glucose, but not peak glucose or time spent in hyperglycemia, increased each night (0.7 mg/dL per night [95% CI: 0.2, 1.2]).

Eastbound transatlantic travel induced a progressive worsening of glucose metrics during 24-hour, day, and night periods. Future research on managing glycemic control during jet lag in people with metabolic disorders is warranted.

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