Traveling with tablets

I went to America last year as a type 2 on tablets (now re-classified as a type 1 on insulin) and carried my tablets and test kit in my hand luggage along with spares of everything in my suitcases.
What with the transatlantic flights and some internal ones I went through numerous screenings and never showed my meds or testing kits and the security folks never queried what was in my bags. They are quite keen at some places in the USA but they never challenged me once (they are more interested in laptops in my experience).
Since there is no liquids and the lancet isn't really a lethal weapon I can't see the problem. Just make sure you have some identification on you that says you are diabetic if you are worried so you can prove you need the stuff but I don't think you have need to worry.

Where are you going?
Have a great time.
Regards
Angie

I'm not long back from sunny California and my experience is the same as AngieG. I had no problems at all. I had a small amount of medication (what I would need during the flight) and my test kit in hand luggage, the rest of my medication in my suitcase. The USA is known to be overly sensitive about what is carried in, but I had no problems at all.

Hi doris. You don't say if you are boarding in the UK. Any ship is the nationality of the flag it is registered under, so if you are on a uk ship you are on british terittory. You will not have a problem , just remember when you go ashore just to take what medication you need for the day, plus something as a precaution for any potetial hypo's. i.e a packet of buscuits or jelly babies. You only enter the country when you go ashore.

Have a great holiday.

Personally, just to be safe, i wouldn't put the testing kit in my hand luggage for security checks. You only need one silly jobsworth and you could get loads of aggro. You don't need to test constantly, so when you unpack on the ship you'll then have it anyway. I know it shouldn't be a problem, but why take the risk when it's not something you need desperately to hand at all times. (I see you're not on insulin)
Pills aren't an issue, but the electrics on a meter will show up and if they look, they'll see the lancet. Again, 99.9% of the time it won't be an issue, but I wouldn't want the potential for a bit of aggro when i'm going on hols.
Enjoy!

Hi,

Having worked for an airline many years ago, I would say ALWAYS ALWAYS carry any essential medication and equipment in your hand baggage along with some undies. The amount of checked in bags that go missing is horrendous. It can also take weeks to get these bags back to their owners.

L x

doris its fine to take any meds in yr hand luggage my hubby carries his insulin in his hand luggage when we go abroad they dont mind cus if u put it in yr case and it goes astray yr snooked

I would never put medication/insulin in my hold bags; always carry it with you in your carry on luggage. You do not need to declare medication to customs officials; it's not their business.

Best

Dillinger

Doris06 said:

Thanks everyone, boarding in Spain, flying out from Manchester, think I will put testing kit in hold luggage and keep tablets in hand luggage then, don't want any hassle at the airport, find that stressful enough!

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Enjoy Spain Doris :thumbup:

Hi Doris06, I regularly travel abroad and take with me my testing kit and medications. I always put them in my hand luggage incase the baggage gets lost and I have never had any problems with this by security, Deb x

Hi Doris, I travel quite a lot on business, I always take an extra week of Metformin tablets with me, just in case another Icelandic volcano blows up. In the past I have taken my testing kit in hand luggage but Grazer makes a good point so will probably put it in the hold next time.

Doris06 said:

Hi Angieg, what type of identification, I don't have any

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Just something that identifies you as diabetic. A card in your purse/bag with your name and address on it, a bracelet / necklace with diabetic on it or anything along those lines. If the tablets have got your name on the packages and you have your passport that proves they are yours but if you are taken ill at least if you carry some form of notification then it will help you get the right treatment.

Have a great trip.
Angie

I have flown dozens of times in the US, Europe and also been over to Mauritius. I have alway carried all my medical supplies in my hand luggage as advised, and have never had any issue whatsoever. I would most definitely advise against putting anything important in hold luggage having witnessed hold luggage go astray and not turn up until days later.

As anyone who has read my travels thread knows, I'm a travel addict and have flown all over the place since I was diagnosed in 2008 - Thailand, Indochina, USA, etc., etc. I always carry my medication (metformin and Januvia) plus my testing kit in my hand luggage and I've never had a problem at all. I think Grazer might be overstating the case as even the most rabid jobsworth has never questioned the lancette in the testing kit - though one did confiscate a bottle of Ass Burner chili sauce a couple of years ago.
My endocrinologist always gives me a prescription for 6 months' supply of medications and I have learnt the hard way to carry this with me, either in my pocket or in my hand luggage. The reason I carry it as that I ran out of metformin in California and I couldn't get any more without a prescription and an American doctor wanted to charge me $260 for one visit to get a prescription. I got my son to scan my prescription at home then email it to me. The pharmacist in California had no problem supplying me with metformin as the prescription carried the doctor's name and contact details. $260 saved in one fell swoop. And a prescription will serve as proof that you need your testing kit and the meds.

I travel quite a bit on budget airlines and don't put any luggage in the hold. I have also been to America with no problems - that time I put some meds in hand luggage and some in hold luggage. I always put my testing kit and meds in my hand luggage and have never had any problems. I have also taken a pill cutter (the type with a small blade in it) in my hand luggage with no problem (wish I didn't have to but my doc won't prescribe 40mg gliclazide, so have to cut the 80mg).

I made myself a card and a keyring saying that I was T2 and it lists all the meds I'm on along with the contact details of my OH.