Freestyle libre and airport security

I don't have experience with air travel since wearing the sensor but when i get a pat down i do mention i have a sensor on my upper arm. Just in case they grab, slide and pull it off. With security at events lately it's fairly common but so far i didn't have any problems. I point at the location of the sensor and if needed show the sensor.

melzee said:

Hi all, I've started on the freestyle libre which is fab! I'm about to do a number of European flights for business. Any issues with security? Either wearing the device or having one in my hand luggage?? I never put bags in the hold only ever travel with hand luggage.

Anyone any experience? Thanks xx

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I've not had any issues with airport security. In fact, I didn't even need to explain what it was when I set the detector alarm off... I'm assuming that security had possibly seen them before.

No issues - flown 3x with it on & all fine.

Just curious (I don't have one): If you walk through the "metal detector" and it's not visible, does that go off? And if you go through the body scanner they see it of course. Do they make you show it to them after they see it?

@TheBigNewt - I'm not sure as I also have s pump so I beep anyway. I haven't been through the body scanner due to having a pump. I think I pointed it out to security each time.

i just returned from holiday and i have a pump, never have any hassle. Usually airport staff are well informed. I carry a letter from my doctor tho' that i am a T1 diabetic and i wear the pump for therapy purposes. The letter also allows you to take your own food.

Had omnipod grabbed and pulled ( painful when returning from Portugal) so ensure someone can understand when u tell them, I was escorted to room as refused to remove my trousers in public! All ok when seen. 1st time any problem all others so far ok. Stanstead once insisted on scanning insulin bottles. Also scanned my PDM re blood tests etc. Hope all ok,I would suggest best to inform before walking through scan at airports.

Scanning insulin bottles? In my experience some of those TSA/airport security people would have trouble finding their bum with both hands. I had one gal who kept sending my carryon bag through like 3 times without taking anything out of it. I kept telling her" it's the corkscrew take it out" and she kept doing it. One guy wanted to scan a freaking Tootsie Roll Pop. I just let him keep it.

melzee said:

Hi all, I've started on the freestyle libre which is fab! I'm about to do a number of European flights for business. Any issues with security? Either wearing the device or having one in my hand luggage?? I never put bags in the hold only ever travel with hand luggage.

Anyone any experience? Thanks xx

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What is the libre like?? I had an appointment with my nurse today and she said I can get a trial with one. Would you recommend??? X

paigerobbo_x said:

What is the libre like?? I had an appointment with my nurse today and she said I can get a trial with one. Would you recommend??? X

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The libre is great, helps you understand patterns a lot better, although I prefer the Dexcom because 1) it can alarm when sugar is too high or low and 2) I find the calibration on the Libre sometimes is not accurate.

My son has libre.We travelled recently to Spain and I was sutprised to see that no alarm went off and nobody even noticed

mentat said:

The libre is great, helps you understand patterns a lot better, although I prefer the Dexcom because 1) it can alarm when sugar is too high or low and 2) I find the calibration on the Libre sometimes is not accurate.

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Hi "mental". I started using the Libre just 2 weeks ago and was very encourage about it because at last I could track down my "Liver dumps" - I found at first that it was reading about 0.7 lower than my BS meter reading so I was quite happy - but about 4 days ago my Libre was reading 4.2 before breakfast and my BS meter was reading 8.5

I used my last test strip to test the meter with the supplied fluid and it read 5.7 - therefore the meter was accurate.

I was waiting for a Doctors appointment this afternoon to get more test strips and these past 3 days my Libre has been reading very low 2.4, 3.1 4.4 and LO, I could not test my BS because I had no test strips - very frustrating - but I knew that those figures could not be right because I felt fine.

Anybody got any suggestions?

Kyambala said:

Hi "mental". I started using the Libre just 2 weeks ago and was very encourage about it because at last I could track down my "Liver dumps" - I found at first that it was reading about 0.7 lower than my BS meter reading so I was quite happy - but about 4 days ago my Libre was reading 4.2 before breakfast and my BS meter was reading 8.5

I used my last test strip to test the meter with the supplied fluid and it read 5.7 - therefore the meter was accurate.

I was waiting for a Doctors appointment this afternoon to get more test strips and these past 3 days my Libre has been reading very low 2.4, 3.1 4.4 and LO, I could not test my BS because I had no test strips - very frustrating - but I knew that those figures could not be right because I felt fine.

Anybody got any suggestions?

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Go buy some test strips. Here you can buy them at Walmart for $18/hundred strips. I think the meter is about the same price. You shouldn't shirk on glucose control for lack of strips IMO. I get mine for about $20/hundred from a website called Diabetes Wholesale. TrueTrack is the brand, meters and lancets come free with strips. I buy like 600 at a time. My insurance doesn't pay for strips.

I am on my 5th sensor now. I flew to Greece and back last week with the Freestyle libre with no problems at all. I was rock climbing all week and swam a few times in the sea and it survived. It has a been a great success for me so far!

Good morning "The Big Newt". Thanks for replying. I think you misunderstood my post - but then I did not give all the information. I normally live in England but am at present in Northern Ireland (which is also part of UK). In the UK the National Health Service supplies pensioners with all the basic health care needs FREE at the expense of the tax payer (thats why our taxes are so high).

In England I was issued with a "meter" called "Element" and NONE of the medical wholesalers in Northern Ireland stock the Element test strips. So I had to wait a week for my Doctor's appointment and consequently ran out of test strips. I even phoned my Doctor in England but they could not help me and advised to wait for my appointment over here. The surgery in Northern Ireland issued me with a new "One Touch" meter and the necessary test strips. All OK.

My previous Post was about the "strange" readings that I was getting on my Libre, which said: "these past 3 days my Libre has been reading very low 2.4, 3.1 4.4 and LO, - but I knew that those figures could not be right because I felt fine." I wondered if anyone else had experienced anything similar.

I like the Libre, but I would also prefer to have something whose readings I can trust. Readings which mean NOTHING are of no use. Three different readings gave me LO which I knew could not be true because I felt fine. If my BS readings drop down below 3 I normally start sweating and a litter later start shaking because I am heading for a HYPO. A reading of 2.4 and three readings of LO would normally have me drinking something very sweet. BUT I FELT FINE - so not to worry.

Any suggestions?