Medizinische Universität Graz - Research portal

Go directly to the nagivation.
Go directly to the content.

Navigation/Search

Selected Publication:

SHR Neuro Cancer Cardio Lipid Metab Microb

Garden, GL; Frier, BM; Hine, JL; Hutchison, EJ; Mitchell, SJ; Shaw, KM; Heller, SR; Koehler, G; Hofmann, V; Gaffney, TP; Maher, D; Roberts, GA; Russell-Jones, DL.
Blood glucose monitoring by insulin-treated pilots of commercial and private aircraft: An analysis of out-of-range values
DIABETES OBES METAB. 2021; Doi: 10.1111/dom.14471
Web of Science PubMed FullText FullText_MUG

Co-authors Med Uni Graz: Köhler Gerd
Altmetrics:
Dimensions Citations:
Plum Analytics:
Scite (citation analytics):
Abstract:: Aim To examine blood glucose measurements recorded as part of the diabetes protocol operated by the UK, Ireland and Austria, which allows commercial airline pilots with insulin-treated diabetes to fly. Methods An observational study was conducted in pilots with insulin-treated diabetes, granted medical certification to fly commercial or noncommercial aircraft, who recorded pre-flight and hourly in-flight blood glucose measurements. These values were correlated to a traffic light system (green 5.0 to 15.0 mmol/L; amber 4.0 to 4.9 mmol/L and 15.1 to 20.0 mmol/L; and red 20.0 mmol/L) and studied for trends in glucose concentrations, time course within flight and any consequences. Pilot demographics were also analysed. Results Forty-four pilots (90%) recorded one or more blood glucose value outside the green range during the 7 years of the study. Pilot age, diabetes type and duration, and follow-up period were comparable among subgroups, and mean glycated haemoglobin did not differ before and after certification in a way which would indicate poorer glycaemic control in any subgroup. A total of 892 blood glucose values (2.31%) were outside the green range, with half reported in-flight at various time intervals. There were 48 (0.12%) low red range values recorded, 14 (0.04%) of which occurred in-flight; all but four were restored to within the green range by the time of the next measurement. Appropriate corrective action was taken for all out-of-range values, with no reports of pilot incapacitation from any cause. Conclusions The traffic light system appears effective in identifying and reducing the frequency and severity of out-of-range values.
Find related publications in this database (Keywords): clinical physiology; glycaemic control; hypoglycaemia; insulin therapy; observational study