How to Travel with Diabetes Supplies

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has developed several tips for traveling with diabetes supplies so that diabetics can more comfortably travel with less hassle and inconvenience. These diabetes travel guidelines were updated in 2006 as a way to help diabetics travel safely with their supplies and to also ensure the safety of other passengers. The American Diabetes Association has been instrumental in helping TSA develop these guidelines and protocols.

Why diabetics need special travel accommodations or protocols

One of the reasons that diabetics sometimes need special accommodations or protocols when traveling with their diabetes supplies is because diabetics tend to require several different types of sharp supplies, which may include insulin syringes, diabetes meters, sharp lancets, and more. These sharp diabetes supplies may not only be a concern for fellow travelers, especially during times of high security, but they may provide a way for nondiabetics to sneak sharp objects onto a plane, into a courthouse, or into another security-oriented facility such as a sports stadium.

TSA security screeners need to be able to identify which diabetes tools are authentic and truly used by diabetics and which tools may actually be used as weapons by terrorists. Security screeners are actually trained to not only recognize diabetes supplies, but they must also know how to use them and why they are important, according to the American Diabetes Association.

What diabetes supplies are allowed through checkpoints once screened:

There are many different types of diabetes supplies and medications that are allowed through checkpoints once they have been screened by TSA officials. These include:

• Insulin and insulin-loaded dispensing products. These may include vials or boxes of individual vials, jet injectors, pens, infusers, and preloaded syringes. These devices need to be clearly identifies with a prescription label that contains the name of the passenger. The name on the prescription needs to match the name on the passenger's ticket.

• Liquid prescription medications, including Smylin, Byetta, or a Glucagon Emergency Kit. These medications need to be clearly identified with the name of the passenger on the prescription label.

• Any time a passenger takes medications that are non-prescription liquid medications onto an airplane, the medications need to be clearly labeled.

• If a diabetic needs to take any other type of liquid or gel, such as cakemate, that is designed to treat hypoglycemia, these objects should be allowed onto the airplane. In the event that these items contain more than 3 ounces of liquid, these items need to be declared to a security checkpoint official.

• Unused syringes may be able to go onto the airplane as long as they are accompanied by insulin or another type of injectable medication.

• Blood glucose meters, blood glucose meter test strips, continuous blood glucose monitors, lancets, alcohol swabs, meter-testing solutions, and monitor supplies should be permitted.

• Passengers should be able to travel with an insulin pump and their insulin pump supplies. Insulin pump supplies may include cleaning agents, batteries, plastic tubing, an infusion kit, catheter, and needle.

• Urine ketone test strips should be permitted.

• Passengers should also be able to travel with an unlimited number of used syringes when these are transported in a Sharps disposal container or other hard-surface container. (source: http://www.diabetes.org/advocacy-and-legalresources/discrimination/public_accommodation/travel.jsp)

If diabetics have any questions, problems, or concerns, they can always contact their doctors, the airline that has issued their tickets, or the American Diabetes Association.

Sources:

http://www.diabetes.org/advocacy-and-legalresources/discrimination/public_accommodation/travel.jsp

http://shop.imtypefree.com/product-p/lfs020247.htm

http://www.diabetes.org/uedocuments/SandraCammarotoMemo.pdf