Airport Travel with Insulin

[GW-Type2]

Good Morning Everyone,
I have been type 2 diabetic taking Lantus insulin for 10 years and am going to take my first overseas holiday in Crete for a week in early May. I read that one needs a letter from you doctor or diabetes team to carry needles and insulin on the plane, yet my doctor says a copy of repeat prescription is sufficient. I have also just phoned Birmingham airport special services who say nothing is required for a small quantity, but bring a prescription repeat or letter if you want to.
Any comments as to what happens in practice would be welcome.
Would be carrying insulin, needles and various tablets in my hand luggage.

 

[Rachox]

Welcome to the forum @GW-Type2 , I don’t use insulin and very rarely travel abroad, so I can’t help you but I’ll tag in a couple of Type 1s who use insulin and travel more than me.
@EllieM and @Nicola M

 

[Nicola M]

I’ve travelled recently and I’m going again on Sunday funnily enough. I always bag my items separately, so insulin in its own clear bag, needles in a different clear bag etc and I always keep everything in their original packaging. I haven’t taken a doctors letter as of recently as I was never asked for it but I do take my repeat prescription sheet on the off chance that they ask for anything although usually they don’t. They’re used to diabetics coming through all the time and I don’t think they have the time to scrutinise what we are carrying.

 

[GW-Type2]

Thank you very much, that's reassuring.
I was searching for information on this sort of thing and came across the well known online pharmacy, pharmacy2U and they offer a same day doctor's letter service for this sort of thing and fitness to fly, unfit to travel letter etc for a cost of £45. Involved sending over your prescription and one of their associated, NHS registered doctors does the rest, said to be within a couple of hours. Useful to know I thought. More so I if you need a trip cancellation in which case one adds a short video, taken on ones phone with an explanation, copy of passport and they provide verifiable certification if needed for insurance purposes.

 

[jaywak]

I have a letter from my doctor which I've had for 40 - 50 yrs and in all that time traveling maybe 100 times on planes and cruise ships have never been asked by anyone to see it so I wouldn't worry if I were you .

 

[GW-Type2]

Thanks, I pretty much thought that would be the case. I will if course take prescription copies.

 

[Kbear25]

I travel quite a lot and have never been asked for anything! The airport security are always very knowledgeable about it all.
I do take everything in its original packaging, in a clear bag and have my prescription in case it is needed - but never has been.
Don't put anything essential in your hold bags though as my luggage went missing once with two spare libre sensors in and my extra hypo treatments.
Have a great trip!

 

[oldtypeone]

Good Morning Everyone,
I have been type 2 diabetic taking Lantus insulin for 10 years and am going to take my first overseas holiday in Crete for a week in early May. I read that one needs a letter from you doctor or diabetes team to carry needles and insulin on the plane, yet my doctor says a copy of repeat prescription is sufficient. I have also just phoned Birmingham airport special services who say nothing is required for a small quantity, but bring a prescription repeat or letter if you want to.
Any comments as to what happens in practice would be welcome.
Would be carrying insulin, needles and various tablets in my hand luggage.

I am t

 

[Loraines]

I have a letter from my doctor which I've had for 40 - 50 yrs and in all that time traveling maybe 100 times on planes and cruise ships have never been asked by anyone to see it so I wouldn't worry if I were you .

I’ve travelled all over the world since I had Diabetes type 1, always with plenty of insulin and CGM’s. No one has ever asked me to provide a doctors letter. It’s a rip off if you’re being asked $45 for one. No single customs point has ever queried it, apart from the CGM on my arm, and in Heathrow one of the officers insisted on tapping it with a hammer… Funny enough it didn’t work afterwards….$100 wasted. Also, if you take your CGM’s through the x-ray, they don’t work properly afterwards. I now ask for them to be put through without x-ray, but sometimes they refuse and then they don’t track my BGL properly.

 

[Lucy62]

I flew to Porto last year and going from Gatwick was great. I got a Sunflower lanyard and as soon as the airport staff saw me in the queue they came and made sure I was managing ok. I took with me a GP’s letter with my medication plus my prescription. BTW I’m Type 1 diabetic for 60 years.
I also had my hospital diabetes letter with what I was carrying and as I am on a pump the details of how to manage the scanners and cray machinery. So going was great. But coming back from Porto the airport security wanted to have my pump (which it is not supposed to, through the xray machine. I had all my paperwork which I had also got translated into Portuguese. But they still would not let me go if I was not screened. The police were called and they said they were happy for me to go through with being patted down but they said that airport security were more senior than them. Eventually I gave up and all my equipment was made to go through the xray and I was patted down. It was awful. They said the papers could have been written by anyone!! This next trip I am getting registered with the airline on medical certificate so that can be checked if need be. I hope this was just a bad day. The plus side is that uK airports are very well educated about health.

 

[LIFEGUNNER]

Good Morning Everyone,
I have been type 2 diabetic taking Lantus insulin for 10 years and am going to take my first overseas holiday in Crete for a week in early May. I read that one needs a letter from you doctor or diabetes team to carry needles and insulin on the plane, yet my doctor says a copy of repeat prescription is sufficient. I have also just phoned Birmingham airport special services who say nothing is required for a small quantity, but bring a prescription repeat or letter if you want to.
Any comments as to what happens in practice would be welcome.
Would be carrying insulin, needles and various tablets in my hand luggage.

I’m type one diabetic, this week traveled I through Stansted airport. Went through security with no problem at all. I had needles in my hold luggage and needles and insulin in my hand luggage plus wearing my Libre sensor on my arm. No problem at all. Sailed through.

 

[Ognina]

Good Morning Everyone,
I have been type 2 diabetic taking Lantus insulin for 10 years and am going to take my first overseas holiday in Crete for a week in early May. I read that one needs a letter from you doctor or diabetes team to carry needles and insulin on the plane, yet my doctor says a copy of repeat prescription is sufficient. I have also just phoned Birmingham airport special services who say nothing is required for a small quantity, but bring a prescription repeat or letter if you want to.
Any comments as to what happens in practice would be welcome.
Would be carrying insulin, needles and various tablets in my hand luggage.

 

[Ognina]

I am 78 1/2 years old, DT1 for the past 68 years. I travel 6/7 times a year and I can’t remember, in my lifetime, being asked about my insulin at any airport. BTW, INSULIN and other medications should always always be carried in the hand luggage. To be safe, always carry an official prescription.

 

[GW-Type2]

I flew to Porto last year and going from Gatwick was great. I got a Sunflower lanyard and as soon as the airport staff saw me in the queue they came and made sure I was managing ok. I took with me a GP’s letter with my medication plus my prescription. BTW I’m Type 1 diabetic for 60 years.
I also had my hospital diabetes letter with what I was carrying and as I am on a pump the details of how to manage the scanners and cray machinery. So going was great. But coming back from Porto the airport security wanted to have my pump (which it is not supposed to, through the xray machine. I had all my paperwork which I had also got translated into Portuguese. But they still would not let me go if I was not screened. The police were called and they said they were happy for me to go through with being patted down but they said that airport security were more senior than them. Eventually I gave up and all my equipment was made to go through the xray and I was patted down. It was awful. They said the papers could have been written by anyone!! This next trip I am getting registered with the airline on medical certificate so that can be checked if need be. I hope this was just a bad day. The plus side is that uK airports are very well educated about health.

What a terrible experience, a one off I feel sure. I'll get one of sunflower lanyards, but hold it in reserve as I'm confident I'll be fine. Might mention condition to air stewards when boarding or checking in.

 

[Lynne C J]

Good Morning Everyone,
I have been type 2 diabetic taking Lantus insulin for 10 years and am going to take my first overseas holiday in Crete for a week in early May. I read that one needs a letter from you doctor or diabetes team to carry needles and insulin on the plane, yet my doctor says a copy of repeat prescription is sufficient. I have also just phoned Birmingham airport special services who say nothing is required for a small quantity, but bring a prescription repeat or letter if you want to.
Any comments as to what happens in practice would be welcome.
Would be carrying insulin, needles and various tablets in my hand luggage.

Hi, Make sure you tell the security person that your are a diabetic and carrying insulin. I've only once been asked to show my insulin pens and I've travelled a lot.
I use a Frio wallet to carry my insulin pens to keep them cool but always remember to keep insulin and other medication in your hand luggage. If it goes in the hold it could freeze.
All airports are aware of diabetics with insulin now, enjoy your trip.

 

[GW-Type2]

Hi, Make sure you tell the security person that your are a diabetic and carrying insulin. I've only once been asked to show my insulin pens and I've travelled a lot.
I use a Frio wallet to carry my insulin pens to keep them cool but always remember to keep insulin and other medication in your hand luggage. If it goes in the hold it could freeze.
All airports are aware of diabetics with insulin now, enjoy your trip.

Thanks for your comments, I'm sure it will be fine.