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Airport Scanners

H

Happytraverler

Newbie
Messages
3
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I’ve recently traveled through Manchester airport T2 and asked the assistant at security screening if I had to take my insulin out of my bag no she replied BUT she asked if I had any sensors in my hand luggage I replied yes she then said THEY CAN NOT GO THROUGH the new scanners at the airport - so they went through manually to be inspected
It’s just a heads up on this with new scanners at the airport
 
I travelled through Manchester recently, with sensors in my hand luggage and they went through without any problems.
 
Lakeslover said:
I travelled through Manchester recently, with sensors in my hand luggage and they went through without any problems.
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It was different for me , the lady did say if it’s the new scanners don’t put sensors through them , I’ve never been told that before ! And my sensors didn’t go through them …
 
Which sensors was it?
I imagine they're being over-cautious, I haven't had any issues with my libre 2+ sensors going through various airports
 
i trave;led through Manchester T2 back in november 2025 and the new scanners were in use
my libre 2+ went through and were fine for use when needed
 
FYI I go through T2 a couple of times a year (most recently April 2026) and haven’t attempted to go through the latest scanners - I’ve continued to ask to be patted down and have my spare sensor swabbed.

No one has queried this (at either Manchester or overseas). I do keep a copy of the CAA card in case.


(The only thing that caused a problem once, was my Frio insulin case triggered the hand luggage x-Ray machine - because of the gel. The security officer asked me to show it to them and was happy then.)

Saying that, I’m going through T2 in a fortnight, so will probably have a fuss this time
 
Ledzeptt said:
FYI I go through T2 a couple of times a year (most recently April 2026) and haven’t attempted to go through the latest scanners - I’ve continued to ask to be patted down and have my spare sensor swabbed.

No one has queried this (at either Manchester or overseas). I do keep a copy of the CAA card in case.


(The only thing that caused a problem once, was my Frio insulin case triggered the hand luggage x-Ray machine - because of the gel. The security officer asked me to show it to them and was happy then.)

Saying that, I’m going through T2 in a fortnight, so will probably have a fuss this time
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MyCGM was not prescribed so I don't have a letter from the doctor nor is the doctor aware that I have one and I want to keep it that way. So what am I supposed to do?
 
CarbMaster said:
MyCGM was not prescribed so I don't have a letter from the doctor nor is the doctor aware that I have one and I want to keep it that way. So what am I supposed to do?I would suggest that you
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I carry a letter from the diabetes specialist nurses, but I have never been asked to show it. Nor have I ever been asked if my equipment was prescribed. I do carry a prescription with me but no one has asked to see it. The prescription may be useful because my liquid insulin will be above the allowed liquid amount. Thus far no-one has asked to see the prescription. I just tell them that I carry liquid insulin I my bag. I keep my medication is a separate bag that has only medicatiion, and that gets searched.. Most airport staff are aware that sensor/pump users do not wish to go through scanners, and will agree to pat you.
My suggestion is that, whatever make of you sensor is, you should print the manufacturer's instructions about scanners, and carry that with you.
 
Been through Bristol airport recently to a couple of destinations there & back in the last 8 months.

No problem with L2+ getting scanned out & in from destinations. (Spare sensor in carry on.)
My insulin has always in my carryon. Never been searched (& I spent 16 years flying out & in with a band?)
 
ElenaP said:
I carry a letter from the diabetes specialist nurses, but I have never been asked to show it. Nor have I ever been asked if my equipment was prescribed. I do carry a prescription with me but no one has asked to see it. The prescription may be useful because my liquid insulin will be above the allowed liquid amount. Thus far no-one has asked to see the prescription. I just tell them that I carry liquid insulin I my bag. I keep my medication is a separate bag that has only medicatiion, and that gets searched.. Most airport staff are aware that sensor/pump users do not wish to go through scanners, and will agree to pat you.
My suggestion is that, whatever make of you sensor is, you should print the manufacturer's instructions about scanners, and carry that with you.
Click to expand...
Good idea about printing the manufacturers instructions. Thanks for that,
 
ElenaP said:
The prescription may be useful because my liquid insulin will be above the allowed liquid amount. Thus far no-one has asked to see the prescription.
Click to expand...
I carry my prescription in case I need to acquire insulin and other supplies at the destination.
We missed our plane in Sicily a few years back (thanks to a TomTom SatNav in a hire car) and had to wait 4 days for a flight home. Supplies got a bit tight.
In this uncertain world we currently inhabit, one needs to expect the unexpected.
 
I normally travel from Newcastle airport to, they normally say it is fine for my sensors to go through the scanner which are the new ones.
To be honest the last couple of times I have travelled I haven’t bothered about them going through the scanner and have had no problem with them working, the same with my omnipod 5’s.
 
CarbMaster said:
MyCGM was not prescribed so I don't have a letter from the doctor nor is the doctor aware that I have one and I want to keep it that way. So what am I supposed to do?
Click to expand...

You could try printing the CAA’s card (see link in my post 16/05/2026). The wording for the Security Officer is:

• Passengers with a medical device such as an insulin pump or Continuous Glucose Monitoring system (CGMs) should not be screened by a security scanner; if they opt out of this they must be offered an alternative screening method.
• Passengers must never be asked to remove a medical device from their body for screening.
• Medical devices (including spare devices) should not go through x-ray machines. Alternative screening processes can be undertaken such as hand search, supported by ETD.
 
Ledzeptt said:
You could try printing the CAA’s card (see link in my post 16/05/2026). The wording for the Security Officer is:

• Passengers with a medical device such as an insulin pump or Continuous Glucose Monitoring system (CGMs) should not be screened by a security scanner; if they opt out of this they must be offered an alternative screening method.
• Passengers must never be asked to remove a medical device from their body for screening.
• Medical devices (including spare devices) should not go through x-ray machines. Alternative screening processes can be undertaken such as hand search, supported by ETD.
Click to expand...
That sounds a good idea - thanks.
 
I travel quite a lot, I've opted out of going through scanners previously but at my local airport about a year or so ago, the security agent pointed to her CGM and said that she goes through the scanner about 100x a day, so I did too. Now I always go through the scanner and have never had an issue (also carry spare in my carry-on and it goes through the x-ray). I'm also on Libre 2+/select. You can see my separate reply to a Q on 'Induction hobs'.. I explain that also had a MRI whilst wearing my CGM and it was fine. I don't know about other CGM's or pumps though. Not sure I would take the chance with a pump unless specified ok by manufacturer but I'll cross that bridge in the future if I need to. Obviously the 'opt out card' is the safest choice though.
 
Hello,
I travel a lot too. Usually the only thing i worry about is the insulin pump and the sensor on my arm. The stock of sensors are not connected to a '' power supply '' so i dont fear for them.
Usually the security staff in my own country are causing the majority of problems. While they are the ones you could easily explain your concerns usually THEY are the ones causing trouble. Of course if things are busy they dont want to have to do more things than usual. There are always big signs that passengers are asked to be respectful to the staff but i think next time i will take a printed '' statement '' showing that i should be checked in a more time consuming way and if they will refuse ask for a superior.
So strange that when i was at a '' local airport '' in Vietnam these things are much easier.
MAYBE the actual risk is very small that something bad could happen. It could be something similar like the story that goes around( dont know if it is true) that in the USA someone did put a cat in the micro wave after it was soaked by heavy rain.
Better be safe than sorry. Usually when i have flight more than 8 hours or so i ask the staff in the plane to stock my insuline in the fridge. Usually the Asian companies will say no problem but i had European companies refusing it. It could well be that time outside the fridge can be close to twenty hours. Usually people are only talking about the time when the insulin is inside a pump.
I think at the main airport in my country the security is done by an '' outside company '' . BUT here in Europe there are a lot sensors travelling around and staff should be aware. IF only a few people insist on having a special check things will not change probably.
Greetings, Eduard
 
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