How to Travel With Insulin
Save spontaneity for your vacation itself. When you have diabetes, preparing for travel is a serious matter. Whether you use an insulin pen for one daily injection or need the constant use an insulin pump, guarding your supplies carefully will keep your travels running smoothly. No matter how you administer your insulin, you shouldn't encounter a problem when taking it through airport security. The Transportation Security Administration allows travelers with diabetes to carry all necessary supplies onto a plane.
Things You'll Need
- Diabetes kit or organizer bag
- Cold packs
- Snacks and drinks
Tips For You
- Discuss your travel plans with your doctor. She can help you make adjustments to your injection schedule if you'll be changing time zones. Ask for a written prescription for all your insulin supplies in case you need to replenish while traveling. If you're leaving the country, ask her to write a letter on her letterhead explaining your condition and your need to carry insulin.
- Pack your insulin, needles, swabs, blood glucose meter, test strips, glucose tablets and any other supplies you use in a diabetes kit or other small organizer bag. You may use a medication cooling bag if you need to keep unopened insulin cold, or you can store insulin in an insulated bag with cool packs -- but don't use freezer packs, warns the Joslin Diabetes Center, because insulin should never be frozen.
- Pack your diabetes kit and a travel-size sharps container in your carry-on bag. Place your prescription and doctor's letter in this bag, and pack copies of these documents in a second bag in case your carry-on is lost.
- Tell a TSA agent that you're traveling with insulin as soon as you arrive at airport security. You'll likely be required to pass your supplies through the X-ray machine along with your other belongings, though you may request they be screened by hand instead. If you wear in insulin pump, you should not be asked to disconnect it. You may ask to be patted down instead of walking through a metal detector or imaging scanner.
- Keep insulin and other supplies with you at all times. Protect these items from cold and heat. For instance, place the bag containing your insulin on the floor of the car instead of letting it sit in direct sunlight, and bring it with you into a restaurant instead of leaving it in the hot or cold car.
