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I know there are a good few people on here with experience with diabetes or with family who have it, so I hope you can help. My son was diagnosed with Type 1 last year and it's our first time flying with his kit in a few weeks. Just to add to the challenge, he's getting his Dexcom G6 CGM this week (thank you NHS!)....and of course, we're flying out of Manchester!
I've messaged both airlines so they should make a note on the booking. We've also got the standard letter from the hospital to carry with us. However, Manchester security don't exactly get a glowing review on the Diabetes UK forum, albeit comments are a few years old now.
Does anyone have any recent experience of passing through with their insulin, needles etc and how easy it was to ask for a 'wand' scan and pat down rather than pass through the whole body scanner? There's mixed advice on whether to go through them with a GCM so I don;t want to risk it.
Ta
I keep all my gubbins in my hand luggage. I've been through Manchester security many times and have never been challenged over my diabetes kit. I've been through an airport body scanner a couple of times with my Libre CGM on my arm and haven't had any problems. Not sure if it's the same technology, but I've also had many CAT scans over the last couple of years, none of which have bothered the monitor. Had to take it off when getting MRI's done though, as the nurse said it might get ripped off by the magnets!!!
Thanks. That's reassuring. I think the bigger issues seem to be with the pumps as they are relatively new tech and to the untrained eye, look a bit terroristy.
Do you carry sweets and coke etc with you or do they make you buy more air-side?
Libre on/in the arm, insulin pens in my carry on, along with spare cartridges. Always been fine, occasionally they confirm what it is, but they are common enough now that it isn't a surprise.
Last flew out of Manchester in March, was OK then.
Thanks Beagleboy & Superdan. Was going to ask the same question. Very reassuring.
He'll possibly get the pump swabbed for drugs/explosives. That's all that happened to my son. Just show them the pump
My wife has had her pump swabbed every time she’s been through heathrow, she was quite an early adopter of the pump, so when she first got it they had to get a supervisor to look at it.
Last couple of times it’s been swabbed but no problems.
They’ve never said anything about insulin/needles, as soon as they know what it is though.
I’m assuming security at Manchester will be fairly similar, being an international airport.
Fly 2/3 times a week for work with a pump and Dexcom G6 and I’ve not had any issues anywhere in the world. I usually pull the pump out of my pocket and show it to security before I go through the scanner. The security staff then wipe the pump and hands with a chemical detector strip and run it through the machine, providing it turns green you are good to go.
Guys hospital say you should only go through the metal detector not the scanner as it is electromagnet and can mess with the pump. Personally I’ve not had a problem but you can request a member of staff checks you manually with a wand if you are worried.
I only travel with hand luggage so insulin in the liquids bag and divide everything else between back pack and suit case just in case something disappears. Take glucose tabs instead of liquid as they don’t have to go in the liquid bag. Make sure you take snacks as all the airports have big queues everywhere and you don’t want to get caught short with all the walking and stress.
Been through with my girlfriend twice this year with her Libre on arm and insulin pens / cartridges in carry on, no issues.
Thanks all. That's very helpful and reassuring. He's not getting a pump, just the Dexcom G6 but I think it'll be a massive boost to him (he's nearly 13) after a year of finger pricking. I need to get him a few straps and patches for when we're in the sea etc
Pumps aren't that new tech these days but they do seem to be unknowns for airport security. I tend to say to them I have an insulin pump that can't be scanned and can I remove it so it can be swabbed. I then ask the person who takes it not to put it through any scanners and I watch them. I go through the body scanner thing and they swab pump and check it.
This have been absolutely fine apart from twice - leaving New York airport to return to UK and the security there claimed insulin pumps didn't actually exist and I spent 2.5 hours with security being questioned and checked...they finally let me through with pump.
Second was a return flight from India...security had a chat with other security and placed it on the x-ray machine for the 2 minutes chat - despite me asking them not to...got through all ok but after flight got back to UK and I went to change my insulin, the pump failed completely. A replacement was dispatched and a week later I was asked if I'd been through any high powered machines with it. I said about India airport security and they reckoned the sitting on the baggage x-ray caused the issue.
So 2 out of 20+ flights (I don't fly often) and general airport security are very good. All my diabetes supplies go through as my hand luggage and they stay with me whilst I travel.
If in doubt get there a wee bit early and make sure you flag this to a security person early and it should be fine.
Enjoy the holiday!
First of all I hope your son (and you!) are adjusting ok to being T1.
i usually carry my spare insulin and spare pens in a small thermos flask to keep them safe and at a steady temp. I tend to have that in my hand luggage (so its near me should my hold luggage get lost) and as soon as i get to security I take it out and show it to the security staff. almost always they are very blasé about it and just pass it through the scanner after taking a quick look inside. I dont use a pump (I use pens and a Libre 2), and i haven't had any problems with body scanner picking this up. I think the G6 isnt that much more complex a device than the Libre??
i used to take with me a letter from my GP...particularly when travelling to places outside of the EU. but even then the only place where anyone has been more than slightly interested was in Australia on one or two occasions. A letter could be useful for piece of mind, but generally i have had no real problems whatsoever in 15 years in probably about 15-20 countries. I think most of the airport security staff are looking for quite specific things and will have come across people with T1 and their pens/pumps/scanners quite often.
good luck, but I would think that you will be relieved when you see it generally isn't an unusual thing for the security and airlines to see.
Same as what Baser said about taking sweets. I usually just carry my normal emergency jelly beans/glucose tabs. Always carry a bit more than you think you need in case you get caught short or flights are delayed on the tarmac or at the gate.
I went through Manchester Airport security last week with a Dexcom and it’s been the same as all my flights over the last decade or so. Tell them I have medical devices that can’t go through the X-ray or body scanner and they swab my spare sensors and usually pat down too. No fuss and pretty relaxed.
I hope your flights are ok, they were a bit challenging last week for me, although I was going to the US and Canada, the latter being apocalyptic from an airport perspective!
I use Skin Tac on my sensors via a bottle and applicator, which very rarely comes undone even with daily swimming. 🙂
Sorry I can't help with specific question, but have flown out on Manchester t2 twice in last month. Both times 6pm departure so got there c3pm. Security only took c 1 hr, but c 430pm onwards it was empty, like fully staffed but no passengers.
Press had loads of horror stories, even lady at station who sold me a train ticket said I d be lucky.
Went through Manc airport Sunday am. Got there 4:15am and only just got on our flight at 6:40am (easyJet) no time to stop, had to leg it through airside !
Ques were horrendous at check in and security
Oh no my worst nightmare, happened to friends too, security not fully staffed till 6am, they only just made it too.
Dad to a 13 year old T1 (7 years in) so understand your apprehension. As others have said, absolutely zero issues with pen, needles or Libre going through scanner/xray/general security at main airports in UK (inc Manc) or abroad for that matter. Security seem more interested in a belt than 4mm needles 🙂 Never had to show the letter. Don't bother with cans of Coke - you'll lose them, Just buy on the other side if need be.
I need to get him a few straps and patches for when we’re in the sea etc
On this point, we wrap some of this around juniors Libre. Not waterproof (but the device is obviously), but does the trick protecting it whilst messing about in the sea / pool doing activities.
Available at Boots, Superdrug etc.
Not been abroad with my daughter who has been T1 for 11 years, however we have been on holiday a lot! Have found that sun cream and sensor adhesive are not a good mix. As we holiday in the UK she wears a wet suit and have had no issues with knocking the Libre off. We've also used the cohesive bandages that work well, but she happens not to like them.
We use Supersapiens performance patches to protect a Libre in the sea.
Went to Kenya the week before last and all ok, bit of a queue at security and didn’t have time to do anything but get through and get to gate just in time for final call.
Would take fast track option if available - wasn’t when I looked but was a few folk doing it while I stood in the que for ages. Would save a lot of time.
Coming back was really quick, 5 mins at passport control, 15 mins waiting on bags (with folk standing in the road so one bag had an extra lap…), but was a long wait for bus to jetpark.
Actual security checks ok, they see it every day so shouldn’t be any issue.
Enjoy!!
Update: 30 mins from baggage drop at T1 to clearing security. Staff all great and looked after my boy. Happy days.
Thanks for all the other useful info. I've bought some of that cohesive tape stuff which the boy seems up for using. He's doesnt give a toss about hiding his CGM or explaining what it's for. He's well happy with it 🙂
Glad to hear the update...enjoy the holiday!
Have a great trip!
My daughter just passed her 4th year at T1D and we drove to France 2 weeks after diagnosis. Assuming your going somewhere warm, we have noticed that her levels are much easier to control in a warm environment than at home. I understand the G6 doesnt like to go swimming for more than an hour or so, and no deep diving. Frio packs are good to keep the insulin cool and/or hire a fridge in the room and when travelling. Hope you have a good time.