• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Air travel to Tenerife with type 1 diabetes

Adamskidiabetic

Adamskidiabetic

Member
Messages
9
Location
Mansfield
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
do I need a letter from my doctor to carry insulin , pens etc and to confirm that I am type 1 diabetic ?
Or will it cause problems without?
Thanks
 
Adamskidiabetic said:
do I need a letter from my doctor to carry insulin , pens etc and to confirm that I am type 1 diabetic ?
Or will it cause problems without?
Thanks
Click to expand...

Airport staff are well used to seeing T1 kit, so the chances of you being stopped without a letter are pretty much nil. Put it in the see-through bag and it'll float through, no questions asked.

There's lots of T1s here who've travelled extensively and none have been asked for a letter.

But (there's always a but), it only takes one "jobs-worth" member of staff to mess things up, so, if you've still got time before the holiday, I'd have a shot at seeing if your DSN or GP will do a letter, just in case. DSNs generally do them for free, GPs will charge about £25.

I'm not sure if the continuing brexit fiasco will change anything here. I suppose, depending on the politics of the particular customs checker you get, they might get a bit more high and mighty - I always feel more comfortable with a letter just in case.

My current one is about 17 yrs old, never been asked to show it.
 
Thanks Scott I’m travelling Tuesday so I have left it late. Didn’t even think about it till tonight. I’ll try to get one just in case.
 
Thanks helensaramay
Do you put all the needles, insulin and the testing kit in a clear plastic bag, even the testing case holder? Where best place to get one from?
Adam
 
Hi,

I did have a letter.. But never been challenged once.. & I traveled with a rock band.. An easy "bust" for any airport security worker..

Enjoy yer break, @Adamskidiabetic .
 
I’ve travelled a lot after I got diagnosed with type 1 diabeties. We always take a letter just in case however we have never been asked and I’ve been on over 10 flights after getting diagnosed with diabeties. The liquids should go in a clear bag due to the 100ml rule.
As for the needles and monitor etc just keep them in your case but perhaps put them in the top as then it’s easy access if you have your bag searched. But that’s very unlikely and rare. I have never been stopped because of my diabeties supplies. To be honest I think airport security staff have seen it so many times that they recognise it’s medication without having to ask
 
Last edited:
Jaylee said:
Hi,

I did have a letter.. But never been challenged once.. & I traveled with a rock band.. An easy "bust" for any airport security worker..

Enjoy yer break, @Adamskidiabetic .
Click to expand...
Security is odd sometimes I never got searched or questioned because of diabeties. But a few months after I got diagnosed back when I was 7 in Singapore i got my bag searched. I thought it was to do with my diabeties. But it wasn’t I just forgot to push the long metal attena down on my remote control bat remote and they could only see the metal bit on the screen/. That’s the only time we’ve ever been stopped.) but anyway the last time i was through airport security seems like their making things a lot faster as it was very quick when I travelled and came back from Costa Rica, including immigration.

It’s very unlikely you’ll get a problem but take something that proofs your diabetic we always take a letter or prescription. We’ve never had to show it though. We just take it just Incase
 
Back
Top