How To Navigate an Airport With Diabetes
When traveling by air, people with diabetes have the right to bring everything they need on the plane with them, but getting medical supplies through an airport requires preparation and clear communication.
From the maze-like entrance to the final “Repack your bag on a moving conveyor belt before someone points out the sitting area” challenge, getting through an airport security checkpoint can feel a lot like navigating an obstacle course.
Medical devices and medications can introduce a few more snags, but airlines and the TSA do make accommodations for the needs of people with chronic conditions. If you’re planning to fly out of a U.S. airport soon, here’s some information that might make it a little easier to get on the plane with all your diabetes supplies.
Keep your medications and devices with you
If you check a bag, there’s a chance that it could get delayed or end up at the wrong destination, so it’s best to avoid that possibility by putting all of your daily needs and emergency supplies in your carry-on.
You can carry on anything that you need to treat diabetes. That includes insulin and other diabetes drugs. You aren’t required to show your prescriptions, but it’s a good idea to have pictures of them on your phone in case any unexpected questions come up.
You can also bring any equipment you may need for injectable medications like GLP-1s. You can keep unused syringes and test strips in their original packaging, but if you have used equipment that has been exposed to blood, you’ll need to place it in a sharps disposal container.
You are also free to bring liquids and gels that exceed 3.4 ounces, including anything you normally keep on hand as part of your emergency hypoglycemia kit. However, you might consider going with glucose tablets, candy, or raisins because those will be easier to travel with in general.
Of course, getting through airport security with your supplies in hand may not do you much good if you’re in a late boarding group on a full flight. Fortunately, people with diabetes have legal protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and you may request preboarding to avoid having to gate check your bag if the overhead space fills up. Agents are obligated to honor these requests at the gate, but it’s a good idea to research the airline you’re booking with and see if they ask for any forms or any other information ahead of time.
If your insulin does end up being checked, make sure to inspect it carefully before injecting. Insulin is sensitive to changes in temperature and pressure, and although a plane’s cargo hold is usually climate-controlled, it is generally allowed to experience more extreme variations than the cabin.
Inform the inspector that you have diabetes
While the TSA will allow you to board with all of your medical supplies, they still need to inspect everything. When you arrive at the security checkpoint, you should immediately inform the agent that you have diabetes so that they know you will be following a different protocol.
A notification card may make it easier to communicate your needs. The TSA has a simple one that you can download and print.
For general and international travel, you may want something with more detail. There’s nothing stopping you from typing up and laminating your own custom card, or you could buy one from an organization like the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.
Prepare for a more hands-on screening process
You should let the agent know if you are wearing any devices, such as a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) or insulin pump. The TSA will allow you to go through a standard body scanner or metal detector, but they will also ask you to do a self-pat-down of the device. The agent will watch you do this and then test your hands for traces of explosives. While the self-pat-down is a requirement for standard security lanes, you may be able to skip it by enrolling in TSA Precheck.
However, even though the TSA will allow you to go through a body scanner, it may not be in the best interest of your wearables. Body scanners in the U.S. use millimeter wave technology and release less energy than a cell phone, but manufacturers like Dexcom and Abbott, which lack evidence to show that these scanners don’t interfere with their wearables, generally advise their customers to avoid wearing their devices in these machines.
Instead, you can ask for hand-wanding or a full-body pat-down. Pat-downs are conducted by a same-sex agent, and they may be done in a private location if that makes you more comfortable. Since this process may take a little longer, it’s a good idea to arrive at the airport with plenty of time before boarding.
Meanwhile, the TSA will conduct a special inspection of the carry-on bag that contains your medications and supplies. At the same time you tell the agent you have diabetes and are wearing devices, you should disclose what medical supplies are in your bag. They will most likely ask you to take these supplies out of the bag and place them in a separate bin.
Luggage scanners emit low-energy X-rays, and the manufacturers of your CGM and insulin pump would most likely advise you to keep any wearables that you’re not currently wearing out of these scanners. The TSA will honor these requests for devices and for medications.
Any liquids that exceed 3.4 ounces will be subject to additional screening, regardless of whether they go through the luggage scanner. This additional screening may involve opening the container and swabbing it for testing.
The bottom line
Airport security can be a hassle, and even more so for people who are managing chronic conditions like diabetes. You have the right to bring your medical supplies with you on a flight, but you will need to inform security and gate agents that you have diabetes and require specific accommodations. You will most likely have to go through a few extra steps at security checkpoints, but if you prepare and organize ahead of time, you'll be able to get on the plane with everything you need.
Learn more about traveling with diabetes here: