michelejane
Active Member
- Messages
- 25
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Pump
- Dislikes
- reality/celebrity tv, sport
Here are the official instructions from Medtronic on how to proceed through airport TSA security:
https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/loop-blog/get-tsa-5-diabetes-devices/
I see they actually recommend to either disconnect the pump and place it on the tray for security checked while you walk through as 'normal' or that you declare in advance you want to keep it on and demand a manual pat down. And that you show your medical declaration if asked about it.
OK, 1st off: I stopped using a pump after trying first time back in the 80-ties when using one of the first models of the MiniMed before they got bought by Medtronic. And the world has certainly moved on since then, but so has the development of the glargine insulins etc. And as I experienced several trouble non-stop back then with airport security tightening up, trouble with blocked tubes, batteries going flat, etc etc And I engage in sports like surfing etc, where it also was a problem certainly back then. And I never went back... Sorry for that, as I know they work great for many!
'Fun thing' is though I don't even have any medical declaration about my diabetes or need for insulin. Never had one actually? And I truly travel every single week 2-6 8 flights is the norm. I load up my hand luggage. 2-3 Lantus, 4-6 Novorapid pens as the absolute basics. More in my toilet bag or tie-area in my roll-on bag if going on a roundtrip for more than 1 week. I never take out the pens from my hand luggage. They always go through xrays/security scans without a hitch. Same with my Abbott Libre on my arm, goes through all kind of scans, xray, mafnetic body scans etc etc. Never a single beep, never ever. Only time the Libre sensor cause a beeping is when you get one of those manual body paddings down, where they also use a body swiper-scan gun tool.
Only time ever after literally thousands of flights, was once in CPH Copenhagen Airport, where I went through in transit to a far east flight destination. They asked me to open my hand luggage there. I had 2x 5-pen boxes of Lantus pens and 3x 5-pen boxes of NovoRapid pens plus probably 6-8 pens laying loose in my small front pocket. So all that liquid together apparently lit up a bit on their otherwise dull security screen... Was not asked much after just declaring it was my personal insulin as being diabetic Type1. And off I went for a 6 weeks trip to the Far East and Australia/Oceania!
Only place I don't travel often is South America.
Otherwise rest have never caused any issue what so ever.
Thank you so much! Michele
I use an Insight pump (Roche), I don't use pens but I guess I better order some to take as back up. More to do this week!