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Diabetics
using commercial air transportation have been given special
guidelines from the Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) on carrying
their equipment, medication and supplies through security
checkpoints with minimal delays.
- Notify
the security screener that you have diabetes and are carrying
your supplies with you on board the aircraft;
- Make
sure you have the professionally printed pharmaceutical
label that goes with insulin vials, insulin pens, jet injectors
and insulin pump;
- While
there is no limit to the number of empty syringes that can
be carried through a security checkpoint, be sure you carry
insulin
along with the syringes in order to pass through security;
- You
can carry lancets, blood glucose meters, blood glucose test
strips through security checkpoints;
- If
you need to check your glucose levels but do not require
insulin, you can board with lancets as long as they are
capped and are accompanied by a glucose meter that has the
manufacturer's name embossed on the meter;
- Notify
screeners if you are wearing an insulin pump and request
a visual inspection of the pump rather than requiring it
to be removed from your body; and
- Advise
screeners if you experience a low blood glucose level and
need medical assistance.
International
travel may require additional procedures and individual airlines
should be consulted before heading to the airport.
If a diabetic
passenger encounters problems with security checkpoints, they
can call the TSA hotline at 1-866-289-9673.
Also,
the ADA recommends that diabetic travelers pack at least twice
the number of supplies needed during the trip and bring a
quick-acting source of glucose to treat low blood glucose.
Carry or wear medical identification and contact information
for your physician. Try to have contact information for health
care available at your destination and be prepared to adjust
medication when traveling to a different time zone.
Source:
Medical Week staff,
week of June 9, 2002
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