Type 1 Advice for Travelling with Type [emoji637] Diabetes

[LilLoWilliams]

Hello, I was wondering for a bit of advice from anyone who’s travelled abroad with their diabetes. I’ve had type one diabetes for 3 years and I have yet to travel abroad since I found the thought very overwhelming to begin with but now I’m feeling more confident I’d like to finally try this year.
I had two bits I think I’d like advice on, first did anyone recommend a particular travel insurance that they’d recommend I use?
I also am quite nervous about going through airport security and when I look up what to do online I seem to get this conflicting information that has now made me more confused. I am on a Medtronic 780g pump and use a Guardian 4 Sensor. Which bits can they can they go through during security? Pretty much any advice anyone could give about airport security would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!

 

[EllieM]

Hi @LilLoWilliams

I've been T1 for 56 years and travelling overseas for most of them.

Your profile says you are 27 so as long as your hba1c is reasonable I would expect that most/many insurances will cover your T1 as a pre-existing condition without any extra payment but you will need to declare it, or at least check that it is included under covered pre-existing conditions. (At 64 with some extra conditions it is a bit more complicated .) I'm in New Zealand so I can't advise on a specific UK company.

I love my pump but it does make travelling a bit more complicated - lots of extra pump supplies, plus emergency basal and bolus insulin pens for if your pump breaks.

Traveling with an Insulin Pump | Medtronic

Find helpful tips for traveling with an insulin pump including a travel checklist and information about our travel loaner pump program.

www.medtronicdiabetes.com

Though pumps are allowed to go through metal detectors, full body scanners are a no no. I'm never sure which is which and I don't trust the airport security staff to tell me so accurately. Though in theory you can disconnect your pump and go through the scanner yourself, I find it easier just to ask for a pat down. I'd suggest wearing shoes that are easy to take on/off. It's probably worth getting a medication letter from your clinic stating that you are a T1 on insulin with a pump and syringes/insulin pens and your various other meds, and the pump can't go through security. I've never needed mine. (You can also print off a letter from your pump supplier). Unless you are going somewhere really obscure most security staff seem well used to pumps.

I'm guessing your pump will make hypos much less likely but I recommend having glucose in your pockets. No point having it in an overhead locker if the fasten seatbelt sign is on when you need it.

Tagging @Nicola M and @searley who are on medtronics.

I let my dexcom sensors go through the xray with my hand luggage but not sure about your Guardian sensors.

Enjoy your trips overseas.

(Correction, I needed a medication letter once, over twenty years ago, in Hong Kong. I eventually found an old diabetes membership card from diabetes.org.uk which convinced them I was a bona fide diabetic.)

 

[Grant_Vicat]

Hello, I was wondering for a bit of advice from anyone who’s travelled abroad with their diabetes. I’ve had type one diabetes for 3 years and I have yet to travel abroad since I found the thought very overwhelming to begin with but now I’m feeling more confident I’d like to finally try this year.
I had two bits I think I’d like advice on, first did anyone recommend a particular travel insurance that they’d recommend I use?
I also am quite nervous about going through airport security and when I look up what to do online I seem to get this conflicting information that has now made me more confused. I am on a Medtronic 780g pump and use a Guardian 4 Sensor. Which bits can they can they go through during security? Pretty much any advice anyone could give about airport security would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!

In addition to @EllieM 's great advice, it might be worth taking the medical letter as suggested and a translation into whatever country's language you might need. I made a great mistake in 1978 and wished I had done this. Google Translate was a long way off then! Enjoy your travels!