Airport Travelling with insulin/needles

[LauRa Lu]

Does any one fly often, or recently flown America to Uk or similar?

Have you had any problems with carrying insulin onto the plane or through customs.

I'm tavelling from London heathrow to New York on june 15th. And my main conerns are getting the insulin I need onto the plane with my flight bag, and also because i'm taking 4 months worth of suplies im worrying they will see this as some problem.

Also... will my suply of insulin for my travels be safe with my suitcase luggage..doesn't it get too cold in there??

[Tricia452008]

Laura,

have your endo write you a letter explaining the reason for soo much insulin and needles. If the airport has any problems show them this letter and your id bracelet. When i went to NZ i had to take over as months supplies with me just to be safe and i had my doctors note explaining all of it and i got through the airports with little trouble. (I flew in 1996 and airport security at JFK and LAX both suggested that i put my needles and insulin in my luggage down below to keep it safe...DUH people it was a 20 hour flight i kinda needed insulin ON ME!) haha but we got through it ok...good luck with everything..i cannot wait for you to come to the USA!

[LauRa Lu]

Hey thanks tricia :)

Yeh i've heard that before, where people get through ok but they are told not to have the insulin on the plane. I check in at 11 am and fly at 2pm and um must land about 10pm ish i guess... so i definitely need my pens on board!! eek when i land i will go back in time like nearly a whole day !!!

The clock time change is gonna be a pain too, my bolus shot i take here is about 3 in the ater noon american time, which is a little bit of an annoying time to stop for that. i shall have to adjust the timing a bit.

alot to think about but..... so exciting :D

[Goldrun]

I fly often, and have taken insulin on the plane with me from US to Europe a couple of times since my diagnosis. I've never had any problem...but then again, I wasn't carrying so much 'inventory'!

The note will help, but I would refuse to put it in cargo...it does get quite cold in there and for a long flight, I don't think that would be good.

I've flown mostly domestic over the past year, but have never had anyone even question my needles or insulin...it's gotten so I don't even offer the information anymore at security...I just wait to see if they ask me anything (they never have)...but I do carry a doctor's note just in case!

On the other hand, make sure you have all your gels (if you carry the high carb gels in case of a hypo) in a baggie....they're pretty dogmatic about that! (and don't forget to put your chap/lip stick in there too...or it will be confiscated! :)

[DeusXM]

You should be fine. Get a letter from your GP just in case, but in my experience, officials at EU and US airports are very clued up. At most you'll probably get one of them say 'Epi-pen coming through' when you put all your stuff in the little basket.

You can probably put test strips into your cargo luggage but if I were you I would try and keep as much of your insulin in your hand luggage as possible. I realise that's going to be quite a lot but it simply isn't worth the risk. I would also recommend that since you're going for so long you talk to your GP about script requirements for the US. At the very least, take a signed prescription with you because you don't want to be in a situation where you run out of insulin and can't get any more. I've no idea how it would work in the US but I'd imagine if you do run out, you should be able to book to see a doctor and present him with your UK script and get something you can use in a US chemists'. Obviously you'll have to pay for this and the insulin too.

In adjusting your basal, if you're taking it once a day, then I would that for a few days before you go, you alter the time you take your basal. I take my basal at 6pm, and when I went to Thailand, that works out nearer 1am, which is a bit inconvenient. So for a week or so before, I started taking my Lantus 2 hours earlier each day (ie. 6pm, then 4pm, then 2pm) until when I arrived in Thailand, I could take my basal at 6pm Thai time with no problems. If you're going to the US you'll have to take your basal progressively later rather than earlier (since you're heading west), which may or may not be an ideal situation for you.

[notme]

LauRa Lu, I have flown on many international flights and rarely had any problem with my insulin or pump supplies. Coming in to the US, the TSA is a bit more thourogh, but they understand diabetes well and really don't hassle you at all. I never say a word about my supplies unless I am asked. I have only been asked once and that was in South Africa.

Timing is a pain when you are on injection. I went to London a few years back and I was on Lantus. It took a few days to get re-adjusted, but it wasn't too bad. Expect a few high numbers while you are flying. Don't ask me why, but I always have bad numbers while in the air. Don't order a diabetic meal as they think that it means no sugar, but they put pasta, bread and low fat items in your meal. I just get a regular meal and bolus for it. Better yet, carry your own food!

Welcome to the US.

[LauRa Lu]

Thanks for the advice, I shall try and keep all my insulin with me in my travel bag, but its gonna get bulky!... i havent caculated just how much i'll need yet but it will be a lot of little boxes.

I've started taking my Levemir later and later.
I used to take it at 6pm, i put that back and hour then another hour etc over this last week or so, i now take it at 9pm UK time, will probably put it back another hour tonight until i eventually take it about 11pm or midnight Uk time. That's about 6pm ish there.

It's that first day i think i'm gonna be confused. Landing about 10:30pm Uk time but it will be afternoon there! i will be hungry for breakfast in the middle of the night! and eating an evening meal at UK lunch time... or will I :confused: .............:T

[HelenM]

From the Heathrow Website general security info
All liquids must be in individual containers not greater than 100ml capacity. They must be placed in one transparent re-sealable transparent bag, no larger than 20cm x 20cm (8" x 8") in size, and fit comfortably inside the bag so it can be fastened closed
Medicines/medical equipment
Essential medicines should be carried in containers of not more than 100ml and they must be in your transparent re-sealable bag. If your medicines are in containers over 100ml or your medicines and liquids together exceed the capacity of the bag
you will need the prior approval of your airline You should carry with you the proof of prescription or a statement that you need themedicine from your doctor or medical professional
• Essential prescribed medicines, including
• Insulin, hypodermic needles, epipen.2

In addition from the specific medicine security info it adds :eek:
You will be asked to verify these
medicines at security. This may
involve tasting, or testing on the skin.
I haven't had any problems this year at either Gatwick or Stansted and no-one has asked me to taste or test my insulin. No one has ever looked at the doctor's letter but there's always a first time. The biggest hassle has been the horrendous queues to get through security, last time I went they were making everybody remove their shoes at a second screening post.

[HollyB]

I think your only potential problem is the quantity of insulin you're carrying with you but if you have a doctor's letter and they're in sealed containers I'm sure it will be fine.

We just got back from a trip to Ireland and Aaron's observation was that as soon as he said the word "diabetes" he was practically shooed through. He did get patted down once when he set off the detector but nobody questioned the supplies at all.

[pjams]

In all my travels, both within U.S. and international, nobody ever asked me about the insulin pens & or other supplies. Of course I did not carry any large quantity. One never knows how the security people hassle travelers. Once they took away a tiny toothpaste tube. If it is possible or if your insurance allows it, try to buy insulin here. Other things can be kept with checked luggage. I don’t think the cargo area will have freezing temperatures. May be less heated, but not that cold. It is a tough call. Good luck and welcome to US of A!

[EasyType2]

I had zero problems on flights from the US to the UK, and back, with insulin or syringes.

I would suggest you divide your cache of insulin rather than putting all your eggs in one basket. Things do get lost.

[lilituc]

Also... will my suply of insulin for my travels be safe with my suitcase luggage..doesn't it get too cold in there??

Yes, the manufacturers say not to check insulin because it can freeze.

[ant hill]

Also... will my suply of insulin for my travels be safe with my suitcase luggage..doesn't it get too cold in there??
Hello laura, With luggage it is often unpressurized meaning that there will be some pressure change in the luggage compartment and so your cache of insulin may leak!! So don't have your insulin in the luggage!! So take the lot in with you. :cool: