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
Animas provide loaner pumps when travelling.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!
They don't, but your hospital mightAnimas provide loaner pumps when travelling.
Could be worth contacting Roche to find out if they offer the same service.
And what airport is this?This is a lack of information by the airport and the government, my father is in a wheelchair so i have to take him through the security and the amount of times they have got him to stand up and talk his shoes off gets me angry. Then i tell them about my insulin pump and show them everything. There are consultants letters, doctors letters and a letter off medtronic telling them why i have a spare pump. They asked me to go into a side room i refused, i said ring the consultant up as we are in Newcastle they refused. Then the person in charge came to me but while i was waiting i phoned my consultant up and as he was just about to take me away i put my phone on speaker and my consultant went crazy with them. He told them they had seen the letter and could see the pump was attached to my body. they tried to say they did not know what was in the bottles which got a reply of can you not read. That was it on my way and when we got back to the airport i was stopped oh no not again but to my shock one of the airports managers said they were very sorry about what happened and gave me a £25 voucher, i told them i did not want the voucher just for them to get more information to staff about diabetes. As we were leaving the airport one of my friends heard a mother telling the check in staff that her son had diabetes so i gave him the voucher. When i saw my consultant next he said the airport had been in touch and all the staff had got a pack each on diabetes and pumps.
I am new to pumping but have been advised by Medtronic that metal scanners are OK but the full body scans will damage the pump and may affect insulin. Likewise Xrays. In the US at least, there's no problems I've found asking to go through metal detectors. Once I had the full pat down but was OK.So to confirm, the body scanner that you walk through [scanning for metal] is also not recommended.....?
I went through that scanner with pump attached and that pump became faulty.....is it connected?
I am new to pumping but have been advised by Medtronic that metal scanners are OK but the full body scans will damage the pump and may affect insulin. Likewise Xrays. In the US at least, there's no problems I've found asking to go through metal detectors. Once I had the full pat down but was OK.
so is the full body scanners the ones you walk through and the metal scanner is a hand held device passed over the body....
And what airport is this?
That is absolutely awful and so very distressing for you.As a pump user I travel a lot, yes my hand luggage is a pure medical bag most of the time and contains my spare old pump (Medtronic) and all insulin and other drugs I take. I always have a letter from my Doctor and Hospital and one from Medtronic. On a recent trip which was to be one month going to Amsterdam then on to Cape Town for 3 weeks I was fully prepared or so I thought. I was flying from Cyprus via Athens to Schipol. At Cyprus I went through security showed my letter had usual pat down and swabs etc. of medical equipment, all good. At athens I had to go through same procedure some confusion with the pump but when I got a supervisor again all okay. Arrived Schipol and stayed a week in Amsterdam, lovely weeks break there and great people the Dutch for sure. Next step fly Schipol to Heathrow, Schipol equipped with full body scanners declared pump user all the usual things and could I avoid scanner. No problems all checked polite and very understanding. I must state I have no problems with security checks as they are essential in the times we live in and I always declare what medical equipment I have before going through security and give copy of letters stating not to put equipment through scanners or x ray equipment, fine on metal detector gate though. I arrive in Heathrow, oh boy what a reception at security!!! I declare I am wearing a pump and it is advised I do not go through the Body scanner or put the pump through x ray machine. I am met with a sharp response that I have to go through the body scanner no matter what!!! I politely point out that it is okay to do a pat down search etc. I am told again I must go through the scanner and my spare pump must go through the x ray machine. At this point I refuse and ask for a body search. After some fifteen minutes I am taken away to a room and given a body search with this guy telling me that UK do things different as opposed to other countries, really thinks me? but put up with a rather intimate body search at least the worst I have had. Eventually I was swabbed and all was okay for me to proceed to my transfer flight. Boy was I angry at my treatment by now. On my return trip all airports were straightforward and Heathrow were much more professional but still had to explain no xray please because etc. I have travelled extensively to America, Middle East, Far east, and all over Europe with no problems declaring my pump etc. However I always have major problems at Heathrow Airport, they are rude and to be quite honest extremely blunt and cause extreme embarrassment to passengers like me even when we do everything we should! I know this is a bit of a rant but they are extremely poor, and remember My problems went on for fifteen minutes in full view of other passengers and it was not the first time this has happened, plus they escort me to the room for a search!!!. My second time at Heathrow was an improvement and there were announcements that UK checks may differ from other countries so maybe by standing my ground someone may have picked up on it! Over to other pumpers for comment. Heathrow Security staff please note there are ways to do things correctly, politely, and with some courtesy and the job you have to do which is important will get done as well!
Just inexcusable ignorance.My experience at Heathrow security has been varied.
Usually, they have been great: polite, understand the pump, take it off me to swab as I go through the body scanner.
However, last year, I had a similar experience to you where they got very upset when I told them my pump would not go through the scanner. Eventually, they took me to a room for a pat down (thankfully, not too intimate) without any assistance carrying my bags and the liquids, laptop, etc. plus coat, belt, boots (which they would not let me repack or put on) but on the way told me very loudly this was my fault and I chose to have diabetes. At the end of the pat down, they told me to get out of the room ... still without giving me a chance to pack my bags and dress.
I wrote a polite but strongly worded email to the security team their who apologised and agreed to train their staff better.
I have since travelled and found them fine (although one, obviously new recruit had no idea what an insulin pump is, does, ...)
Sounds like they have one or two members of staff who are in the wrong job.
I travel from Cph once a month, and have done for at least 10 years. Always just with carry on luggage. It contains one or two victoza pens, and I've never been stopped because of them. Other weird stuff, yes, toothbrush charger, for example. I was advised not to pack it in the corner of my small suitcase, as it might resemble a bombOnly 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!
It amazes me that you can travel all over Europe with no problem at all, until you try to get back into your own country. I came back from Amsterdam a few days ago, so we had a sniffer dog slobbering all over our bags, and the handler seemed unable to control him. Then we were merged with another flight to go through passport control which only had four people on duty; and, of course, no machine passport readers. I've never encountered this before. It just seems like a shambles. And, needless to say, they found nothing.I travel from Cph once a month, and have done for at least 10 years. Always just with carry on luggage. It contains one or two victoza pens, and I've never been stopped because of them. Other weird stuff, yes, toothbrush charger, for example. I was advised not to pack it in the corner of my small suitcase, as it might resemble a bombYes, fine, ok. I haven't heeded the advice, and was never stopped because of that again.
I honestly believe that many of them are enjoying their 8 hours of daily power. Once a foreign female passenger was given a regular telling off for putting perfume on while going through security. The security officer treated her like a naughty schoolgirl and claimed there could be people suffering from perfume allergies. True enough, but right after security everybody has to go through the biggest perfume outlet in Denmark!! To make a quiet point I asked her if there was any way of avoiding that. I hope the other woman heard.
I've had unpleasant experiences at Heathrow too, but nothing diabetes related. I do dread security anywhere in the world, though. I hope they were treating you courteously at Cph?
I should mention that most of them are domestic flights, but that won't make a difference to security, of course.It amazes me that you can travel all over Europe with no problem at all, until you try to get back into your own country.
I came back from Amsterdam a few days ago, so we had a sniffer dog slobbering all over our bags, and the handler seemed unable to control him. Then we were merged with another flight to go through passport control which only had four people on duty; and, of course, no machine passport readers. I've never encountered this before. It just seems like a shambles. And, needless to say, they found nothing.
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