Insulin and flying

[statdeac]

Ben,

I travel frequently, too, but fortunately have only been asked once about my insulin by a screener. Does it affect the insulin to put in through the xray?

[carebearsmom]

I asked several doctors about this and here is what I was told...
The x-rays will not affect the insulin. However, insulin should not be left in your bag that will be placed under the plane because the temperature COULD affect it. Also, I got conflicting reports about the x-rays affecting the batteries in the pump, so to be on the safe side - I got a doctor's note stating that my daughter needed to be hand-wanded instead.

-Karen

[BenEBrady]

Call me paranoid... but If you understand how most human insulin is made now, you would want to eliminate ANY chance of a problem. Insulin is made from a special strain of e-coli bacteria that have been genetically modified. Since X-Rays (and other radiation) have been known to cause genetic mutations, and the e-coli have already been genetically modified, I would rather not take that risk. I would rather not inject myself with a substance that has been irradiated by a machine with questionable service history, unskilled operators, and in most cases is at around 30 years old.

I use a FRIO insulin cooler http://www.friouk.com (works GREAT) and I simply take it out of the pouch on my belt and hand it to the screener and request they hand inspect it, or put it into the little plastic bucket they give you to put your keys, cell phone, pda, etc... along with the fanny pack that carries all of my prescriptions and syringes. Thank God that Medic Alert now issues plastic identification cards when you renew your membership with them, it's more accepted than a note from the doctor, in my experience.

I was wondering something. I have not flown since being on the pump but have never had trouble with my insulin or syringes in 34 years of flying. But, I did carry hairspray in my luggage (in a plastic spray bottle). Now , I do not carry hairspray any more because the last time I flew--the spray cap blew off the bottle and the spray went all over my clothes in my suitcase. It was in the luggage compartment of the airplane.
What I am wondering is if that blew off from pressure, then will the insulin syringe that is in our pumps blow under pressure and ruin the "inside" of our pumps or will it be Ok in the cabin part of an airplane?

[BenEBrady]

As long as you are in the pressurized compartment of the aircraft you should be fine. If you have extra insulin in your luggage, you should make it a practice to put it in your carry on and NOT in your checked baggage. The airlines have been known to lose luggage and it would probably not be good for you to be in Chicago and your insulin to be in Boise...

Thanks Ben--will carry all supplies with me and I usually stay belted in my seat. :D

[BenEBrady]

I'll be flying back to the Philippines soon to assist them in completing a project I have been working on. I'll let you know if there has been any improvements in the process since December when I went there last.

[spot_ip]

Originally posted by BenEBrady
Call me paranoid... but If you understand how most human insulin is made now, you would want to eliminate ANY chance of a problem. Insulin is made from a special strain of e-coli bacteria that have been genetically modified. Since X-Rays (and other radiation) have been known to cause genetic mutations, and the e-coli have already been genetically modified, I would rather not take that risk. I would rather not inject myself with a substance that has been irradiated by a machine with questionable service history, unskilled operators, and in most cases is at around 30 years old. [ non pertinent portion removed]

I, it's more accepted than a note from the doctor, in my experience. Insulin is in fact produced using recombanant DNA technology but the e. coli is not in the insulin and no genetic material is in the insulin. X-Ray radiation will not mutate anything in the bottle and is in the low doses used harmless. this is a real non-issue, spot

[bonz68]

My boyfriend has Type 1 Diabetes and the last time we flew, he took an injection on the airplane. When we landed he found a large bruise at the site of his injection (his stomach) and finally felt the insulin being absorbed. Does that mean he cannot eat during a flight because the insulin injected is not absorbed due to pressure differences? We are going on a 13 hour flight in 6 weeks and that would be a long time to go without eating if this is the case.

[Gary_W]

My boyfriend has Type 1 Diabetes and the last time we flew, he took an injection on the airplane. When we landed he found a large bruise at the site of his injection (his stomach) and finally felt the insulin being absorbed. Does that mean he cannot eat during a flight because the insulin injected is not absorbed due to pressure differences? We are going on a 13 hour flight in 6 weeks and that would be a long time to go without eating if this is the case.

Many of us here fly frequently. I've been on 13 hour flights + and not had problems with absorbsion. I eat normally on the flight (if you call airline food normal). The insulin works fine. The harder thing to manage is the basal insulin, as you'll have to decide if you wish to move it to the new time zone etc.

Bruising happens occasionally; I have not noticed it on a flight but I guess as you are injecting in a cramped up seat it may be more likely...

[notme]

No bonz68 the plane is pressurized. There is no difference in pressure and insulin is absorbed just fine.

I just flew back from Italy which is a very long flight from California. There is no problem flying with insulin or supplies and they can go through xray without any problems. I have been asked about my pump only twice and both times I was waved though when I told them it was an "insulin pump".

As far as carrying all of your supplies, I carry all of the supplies on board with me. I don't want to lose my supplies for days if my luggage is lost. Coming home, I usually carry enough with me to last for a week and the rest goes in my luggage. Cargo holds are pressurized and heated. Many times there are live animals or contents under pressure in people's luggage. You don't need to worry about freezing. If that were the case all the wine, hairspray and shaving cream would freeze in the hold on a plane.

The reason things explode is the changing air pressure as you take off and land. Once you are at altitude, the pressure is equalized.

[jspirit]

Call me paranoid... but If you understand how most human insulin is made now, you would want to eliminate ANY chance of a problem. Insulin is made from a special strain of e-coli bacteria that have been genetically modified. Since X-Rays (and other radiation) have been known to cause genetic mutations, and the e-coli have already been genetically modified, I would rather not take that risk. I would rather not inject myself with a substance that has been irradiated by a machine with questionable service history, unskilled operators, and in most cases is at around 30 years old.

I use a FRIO insulin cooler FRIO :: Home (http://www.friouk.com) (works GREAT) and I simply take it out of the pouch on my belt and hand it to the screener and request they hand inspect it, or put it into the little plastic bucket they give you to put your keys, cell phone, pda, etc... along with the fanny pack that carries all of my prescriptions and syringes. Thank God that Medic Alert now issues plastic identification cards when you renew your membership with them, it's more accepted than a note from the doctor, in my experience.

Any problem taking the Frio through customs? Do we need a note from our doctor stating we require the Frio to keep our insulin cold?

[notme]

Honestly, you don't need to keep insulin cold while you are flying. The airplane is plenty cold to keep insulin in good shape until you get to your destination. Take the Frio with you if you want to soak it when you get to your destination.

[someone]

It's not something to worry about. Just put it through the xray machine and in your carry on bag. If you are on a pump, just go through the metal detector. If it goes off, just tell them you have an insulin pump that cannot be disconnected and they will wand you. That's basically my procedure when I travel. Even traveling international, I have never needed a note or anything.

[Lizzie G]

Hi

I fly longhaul frequently, the first time I flew with diabetes about a month after being diagnosed (last year) I was terrified of every aspect...however, in my experience, a)all customs officials etc have been very understanding, i just tell them i have needles in my hand luggage before it passes through xray and they have never asked to see my letter or search the bag, b)never had any problems with bolusing on planes and c)i use a really cheap lunch bag thing and just have ice packs in and keep all my kit in there. way cheaper than frio and room for snacks...also, when im somewhere hot i just put the little ice packs in my pen wallet during the day. so all in all nothing to be scared of.
even in cuba where the customs officials spoke relatively little english saying 'diabetico' was enough for them to understand. people at airports have basically been really really nice and made the whole experience comfortable.

[Lizzie G]

ps - remember to keep ALL your supplies in hand luggage, a)so insulin doesnt freeze, b)in case your baggage gets lost.

[stlduckhunter]

I fly monthly to France and have been doing so for the last 10 years without problems. I always carry my supplies with me personally and have several Dr's notes and ID cards indicating that I am diabetic. Never had a problem with security or customs anywhere. Even though the plane is pressurized, prefilled vials of insulin for my pump will develop air bubbles at altitude that require attention when changing.

[bonz68]

Hi everyone,
Thanks for the info. It's good to know that he (my boyfriend is a Type 1 Diabetic) can eat while he's on the plane and take insulin as he usually does. He was worried he wouldn't be able to eat for over 13 hours. But I think it worries him that he had that bruise at the site of his injection during his last flight. Does anyone know why that happens and maybe how it can be avoided?
Thanks

[Glucoweb]

I always carry all my diabetic supplies in my carry on. If my wife is traveling with me, I actually split my supplies between our carry-ons (hey you never know). I have never had a problem with the insulin in the carry-ons being x-rayed. Always seems to work just fine for me. I have never had a problem with my pump functioning correctly on the plane.

But, I have often wondered, if the plane is pressurized why do my ears pop?

[notme]

Honestly Bonz, I think it was a fluke. Just a bad injection site. Sometimes you can hit a bad spot or a blood vessel that can cause bruising.

[fgummett]

Just for interest : Cabin pressurization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabin_pressurization)

Although the plane cabin is pressurised, it is not equivalent to sea-level; rather more like 2,500 m (8,000 ft)... but that is still plenty to stop you blacking out when the plane is flying at 30,000 ft! You'll see this if you carry a bottle of water on with you... empty the bottle and put the cap back on... when you land note that the bottle has collapsed from higher external pressure.

I don't know if that would have any affect viz bruising or slow absorption... I suspect not and suggest (same as above) it is more likely due to injecting in a cramped seat.

I also fly frequently with my pump, supplies and pills... never had anything but polite professionalism from security staff.

[fgummett]

This interesting for anyone wondering why the plane's cabin is not maintained at sea level: If the cabin were maintained at sea level pressurization and then flown to 35,000 feet (10.7 km) or more, the pressurization differential would be greater than 9 psi (60 kPa) and the structural life of the airplane would be limited.

Imagine a balloon that has too much air in it :eek:

[steamfan261]

I'll use the Boeing 737 as an example here. There are two cargo compartments below the floor where your luggage goes. Both are pressurized, and both received their pressurization from the same two air conditioning packs that pressurize and control temperature above the floor.

At worst it might be 10 degrees F cooler in the cargo bins than it is above the floor because of less insulation. This is pretty much true of all Boeing products now. For all practical purposes the cargo bins (where your luggage goes) are just a part of the cabin you're sitting in.

Regards,
Doug (former airline pilot before the big D grounded me)

[art]

How long can insulin go without being cold?
I'm going to Vegas for 4 days. I figure I can hand carry my insulin (Novalin) and syringes and not refridgerate it when I get to vegas and it will be good for the 5 days.
Then I'll chuck it.

Art

[fgummett]

I understand it is OK to be at room temperature for 30 days.

[art]

Thanks. That's what I thought.
NS huh? I was born there and stayed about 3 days.

Art

[bonz68]

Ok that is good to know. Thanks everyone!

[mike-munich]

Thanks for the great info and insight folks ! I'm on my pump for 120 days today and haven't been on an airplane in that time. I used to have no problems with pens, supplies and insulin, so I expect no problems when I'm going to fly with my pump from Munich to Chicago and onto Wichita in 16 days...:cool:

Safe travels ya'll !