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Travelling with Insulin Pump

C

Celestrium

Member
Messages
6
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi there, I got my insulin pump back in September 2025. I’m about to travel in a few weeks with an insulin pump for the very first time. I’ve read up a lot about this, but I thought I’d ask how people got on when they first travelled with a pump. Medtronic recommend you don’t take the pump or the sensors through the 3d body scanners or put them through X-Ray. How do people carry these items through at security? Any tips welcome!

I was also interested to know whether anybody uses the sunflower lanyard?

Regards
Phil
 
I simply remove my pump from my pocket and tell them what it is, depending on the security person one of 2 things happen, they either wave me past the body scanner, pat me down and then swab my pump ( this is the usual route ) or in the past when ive told them I can take it off they swab the pump off me and I walk through the scanner. I usually travel from Gatwick, earlier this year I went from Heathrow and they were a bit of a pain about my spare pump when I told them it couldn't go through the x-ray machine, it got sorted in the end and they simply swabbed it, its down to the security person you get and the one I had was foreign so probably just didn't really understand me! I'm always glad when I'm through but it has honestly never been a problem, just tell them what it is and show them.
The funniest thing was when I forgot to remove my sugar cubes in a small clear bag from my pocket, they obviously thought it was something else!! When I told the guard what it was and apologised she had a good laugh and said that she had never had that one before. Enjoy your trip.
 
Hi and thanks for the reply. My only question there would be what about your CGM, because that’s not supposed to go through the scanner either because it can be damaged by x-rays. That also goes for any unused CGM monitors. I’ve read that I’m not supposed to put those through x-ray either. But all of these can go through a metal detector.

Now I’ve been through Heathrow before with a CGM from Libre free and they said they’re fine to go through. But Medtronic specifically say not to put your CGM through the scanners. Can I ask what pump you have as in the make not the specific model?
 
Celestrium said:
I was also interested to know whether anybody uses the sunflower lanyard?
Click to expand...
I use Heathrow. I hang the sunflower lanyard around my neck before I go to the check-in. Most of the staff recognise it, and are knowledgeable enough to just swab the pump and CGM, and not to query bottles of liquid insulin. However, I need to remember to pack a small shoehorn in my hand luggage because they will always ask me to remove my shoes.
 
I have a tslim now, been pumping 19yrs and had Roche pumps before. I have never worried about my cgms, I have used dexcom for a few years and libre before and have never had an issue with them going through any machines. I usually have some in my suitcase too and have no say on what they go through. I believe the companies say don't do it because they haven't been through all the tests to ensure they are safe so put it all on us instead.
I get that you are worried but I confirm that ive never had an issue and I travel a lot with a friend who has been on medtronic pumps for about 15 yrs and she travels by the same rules as me, she is currently on g4 sensors and the closed loop pump.
 
you can print off a card from the CAA to show to security to say what they should do , you can also get a letter from your diabetes specialist nurse
 
Heathrow was by far the worst experience I had in terms of not going through the scanners; they, for some ungodly reason, had to call a manager in to approve that I couldn't go through

Not all airports are that bad though in 99% of them I've had a good experience with and they've seen enough diabetics to know what to do. When I get to the bit where you put your bags through, I get my sensors out of my bag and let the person there know they can't go through x-ray, they take them off me and hand scan them, and I pick them up at the end along with my bag. When I get to the scanners, I let them know I can't go through due to a medical device, if they insist (which some do... Heathrow...) I tell them absolutely not, I am requesting a pat down, they can't deny you. They'll usually get someone to pat you down and then swab your pump. In most airports, it's quick and easy, even in foreign countries, I've had little to no issues.

I personally don't wear one of those lanyards; I don't feel like I need to.
 
I used medtronic pumps for 13 years and went through lots of airports with them, 2 US airports seemed to think I just wanted to be difficult, and my local airport were quite insistent on me going through the body scanner (I told the supervisor I would go through if they promised they would buy me a new pump if mine broke, that solved the issue ), I would just say "I have an insulin pump that can't go through the scanner".
I use libres so can't comment on taking sensors through.
 
I have been abroad 4 times in past 12 months.

I use Medtronic 780g pump with guardian 4 sensors.
The 2 airports in the UK where I've had a pleasant experience have been Stansted and Edinburgh.
Gatwick, Glasgow, Birmingham and Heathrow have been painful. At Gatwick in front of all passengers they asked me to lift my trousers to my knees. Why? I don't know.
I feel some staff are on a power trip.

Surprisingly at International airports (where staff had limited English) I've had great experience. Infact at one airport they allowed me to take a large bottle of lemonade through when I mentioned hypo - which I had before going through checks.

I have taken boxes of CGM in hand luggage that were scanned.

I think I'll start using the sunflower lanyard next time.

I wish you well with your pump and travels.
 
Well I went on holiday and sure enough Heathrow proved to be a little **** because they didn’t really know what the device was. At least the person I was dealing with. He was telling me I could walk through the 3-D scanner, and I was telling him no I can’t because it kicks our x-rays. To which he replied to me it didn’t. Only, it does. And I refused and got a Pat down. When I got through the lady at the other end said to, yes they kick out an awful lot of x-rays. Good thing I didn’t go through on the advice of the bloke trying to force me. Portugal was fine.
 
I had no problem when I travelled through Heathrow a week ago. I just told staff that, because I was wearing an insulin pump and a sensor, I did not wish to go through a scanner. It was service with a smile. Perhaps I was fortunate not to have inexperienced staff on that shift.
 
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I suspect it is the luck of the draw. But as long as you yourself are vigilant, then all should be fine.
 
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