Hitting the airport with diabetes shouldn’t be too overwhelming with today’s diagnostic rates rising through the roof. Airport security doesn’t seem to blink an eye at glucometers, insulin, syringes, juice boxes, and many supplies you launder through their tight system.
If the most technical piece of equipment you carry is a glucometer you need not worry. However, forget about trying to squeak through with an insulin pump or a continuous glucose monitor- the buck stops here. Every time I travel I’m singled out, wanded and swiped up and down to make sure I’m not packing anything unwanted on the plane. This process gets more convoluted when traveling with my daughter who also happens to have type 1 diabetes. (In the same breath, I’m also appreciative for the safety checks it’s just tiresome)
What is the concern with diabetes technology and radiation exposure?
According to Dr. Chase and Andrew Cornish of the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes:
“When an insulin pump or CGM device is passed through a full-body scanner, X-ray scanner, or other imaging equipment, there is a risk the motor may experience electromagnetic malfunctioning.”
The last time I flew out of Phoenix there was a lot of whistling and waiting until a female airport security employee was available to put me through diabetes calisthenics.
You know what I’m talking about, right?
Arms by the side- Arms in the air- Right foot front- Left foot back- Turn around- Do the hokey pokey while I frisk you up and down.
Here’s another recommendation for you. Don’t wear a skirt, that just makes for another uncomfortable situation.
What are the TSA’s Guidelines?
The TSA’s own guidelines state: “… provide the following instructions to travelers: “If you are concerned or uncomfortable about going through the walk-through metal detector with your insulin pump, notify the Security Officer that you are wearing an insulin pump and would like a full-body pat-down and a visual inspection of your pump instead.” – According to Chase and Cornish
So here’s what we’re left with. If these airport scanners have the potential to damage our diabetes hard goods why would we choose to be x-rayed?
What are the companies recommendations?
Medtronic and Animas recommend requesting an alternative screening method and to leave your insulin pump on. If you do go through a full body scanner, removing your insulin pump and Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)- both sensor and transmitter is advised. Putting devices through an x-ray machine is not a wise alternative either. The only pump company that doesn’t recommend such precautions is Omnipod. Dexcom also has no special precautions related to radiation exposure when I inquired about my CGM.
Should I carry a doctor’s note?
How do we accomplish this with airport security breathing down our necks and trying to escort us through these steps? The almighty Doctor’s note, that’s right. Get one and keep it on you. For good measure take a picture of it on your cell phone in case you lose it. This piece of paper weighs heavy in the airport- apparently.
On a positive end note, with these precautions your insulin pump will continue to squirt out insulin and your Continuous Glucose Monitor will tell you what your blood sugar is up to. Plus a little less radiation exposure is always a good thing.