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Were you nervous and or anxious the first time you traveled on an airplane with T1D? Share your experiences in the comments!
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I prepared myself with small amount of insulin and some food. I had glucose tubes, meter and insulin with me. If my BG rose because I was sitting for a long time, I got up and walked around. I walked to the bathroom and exercise in there for a few minutes. If my BG was dropping, I had plenty of goodies in my bag to include glucose tubes.
Yes I am nervous to fly. I was flying back to MN last fall after traveling to London, and suffered a major hypoglycemic episode. It also triggered a great attack. I woke up in ICU in a Chicago hospital. I spent 8 days in the hospital. Doing much better now!
“Heart attack”
I’m so glad you are doing better, Mary!!
Always a little nervous flying. Nothing to do with T1D though.
I was mostly nervous about going through TSA with supplies and making sure I remembered everything.
Its always good to check that you have after TSA what you had before TSA. Once I somehow lost a bag of pump supplies going through TSA and didn’t discover it until 3 days later. Only an overnight delivery from Medtronix saved the trip.
especially if going to a different country, I wait till the following morning to change the clock on my pump . if here in the US i change when i get there as it is not much of a difference. of course i carry stuff with me in case . One time I was traveling with another friend with type 1 and told her I had numb lips and she said eat something which i did but I had never had that symptom before but it was a low (before CGM this was).
As a mom of a T1 it was nerve wracking just trying to pack and get through security with everything we needed. So much anxiety the first time. But it gets better. Just like everything. Once you’ve done it a couple times it’s a price of cake.
Not the flying but always concerned about security. Once had the guard question whether it really was insulin despite the label on the vial saying so.
Yes – as others have noted, mostly I worried about getting through TSA without too much hassle and making sure I brought everything I needed for an 8-day cruise. In fact, made sure I had enough for a 10-day cruise!
back then (2003), I had syringes for Lantus so I was more nervous about TSA. always MDI so have never had the pump issues. TSA has never said a word.
It was in the mid 1970’s so it is hard to remember. I was a little nervous flying to Saudi Arabia in the late 1970’s carrying vials of insulin and boxes of syringes. I also had a signed and notarized letter from my doctor about my diabetes.
No, but I was a little nervous on my first flight after 9/11, but wasn’t bad.
I answered No because it was 1984 and i was 8 years old the first time I flew, a kid so excited to be on an airplane
It’s been too long since I made my first flight apso I don’t remember but know mw I bet yes I was!
Always a little nerve racking to fly, but with T1D, it add a whole new level of possible complexities. To start, you have to think of how you are going to keep your insulin cool. Then, making sure you have access to enough snacks, and water if your plane gets stuck on the tarmac. Finally, the stress of having enough supplies handy in case your pump site fails.
In 2017 I was flying home and my pump/hands “failed” the TSA test. I always elect to a pat-down and swab hands after touching my pump. The TSA person called their supervisor and, while I can’t remember whether they did a second test, the supervisor said that my pump looked like insulin pumps and they let me through.
Still get anxious because I know I will have to get the pat down. I don’t do through the X-ray machines even though TSA always says it’s fine for my pump and cgm. I don’t want to take a chance. They always seem annoyed, but I’d rather them be annoyed than have a pump or sensor malfunction while out of town.
I gave up flying when they started using those “naked” x-rays, not going to let them put their hands on me either, so no more airplanes for me. The one exception would be a family emergency, then I’d have to deal with it.
In 1968, when I was 12, I was just excited about going on an airplane for the first time.
I’m not anxious about traveling by plane, it’s getting through TSA that creates ALL the anxiety.
Not nervous — but I do tend to need a small bolus right before the flight takes off because the altitude during the flight spikes my BG a hundred points!
I wondered how the pump would get through security and how should I adjust for changing time zones.
I answered ‘no’, as I had no qualms traveling, as it was still the same as any other day. The only thing that did cause me stress was when I was going to Europe for 10 months and had to carry a year’s supply of insulin and syringes with me – hoping these would not be an issue for customs, or storage once at my destination. This was back in the late 70’s. Then in the mid-80’s I went over to Asia to work and had to take a year’s worth of supplies (to a country with postings of “Death to all drug traffickers!” on billboards and the customs slip, and I was carrying a full suitcase of syringes! Yikes!). Luckily, in both cases, there had been no issues.
I had no anxiety because that was in the days when full meals were served on coast to coast flights and food items such as yogurt and juices could be in your carry on baggage. The post 9/11 restrictions really caused a problem.
Being related to the Wright brothers and having flown not too long after their first flight in 1903 . . . What’s there to be nervous about? 🛫
Even if it was 20 years later , you’d be 99….
I was nervous about getting my supplies thru security and whether Id be able to bring what I need in case of a low on the plane.
I told the TSA agent about my CGM and we had a short discussion about her newly diagnosed T1D daughter. I love educating about T1 and my CGM.
Yes and still get nervous about my pump and CGM. Seems like TSA does different things depending on the airport. Not consistent so always wonder what they will do this time.
Never.
.what the plane is doing and the nut jobs on it are the only rational airplane “fears”
The first time I traveled by plane with T1D was in 1994 when my husband was in the Air Force. We were going to be stationed in Okinawa for 3 years. It was not only my first trip by plane as a T1D, it was my first time ever on a jet! And it was an 18 hour trip! I was using my first insulin pump. I wasn’t really concerned about traveling with T1D though. My thoughts were focused on the excitement of the trip alone!
I flew frequentlyfor about 10 years before my Dx with T1d. After Dx, I carried on my supplies and had a 50% hit rate questioning my supplies. My GP wrote a letter for me “certifing”me as a T1d. That stopped most of the questions. After going on the pump and after 9/11/2001, one of my trips was to the UK. Coming back through Heathrow airport the security team there were totally freaked out by the pump as they had never seen one befor. I was escorted to a private area and questioned and released and was able to make my flight home. Subsequent flights through Heathrow went smoother. I sus pected they had developed a dossier on me.
Since then, on domestic US flights the TSA agents told me to take off my cell phone to which i explained it was a pump. They inspected it each time. The last few times they just swab it for explosive residue.
Hassle yes, nervous no. (Sorry for long post)
Heathrow used to be very strict about security after one of BA’s planes was involved in a nasty incident (involving Tamil tigers I think). During the first Gulf war, they absolutely refused to allow my ‘luggable’ PC in the cabin as hand luggage, and I had to do some frantic repacking to make sure I got all the things I needed for t1 in my backpack. The PC arrived fine off the plane in Nairobi, but someone had nicked the carton of cigarettes also in that bag (dash == small bribes — for my final destination). Even earlier, in transit through Jan Smuts (old Joburg airport) where they searched transit passengers almost every time one turned around, I had some weird experiences with SAP personnel — only time I ever used the words ‘suiker krank’ which got me past a hugely skeptical Afrikaner holding my glass and steel syringe up to the light — what was I going to do, hold a stewardess hostage with the needle held to her throat? (I had more sense than to say that)
When I flew for the 1st time, I was 16 and had been t1 for 6 years. was a bit nervous about flying rather than about flying as a t1. I had my snacks packed, and that was all I needed. I was also very excited about being on my own in the grown-up world. This happened in the 1960s.
No,
I have travelled often without any issues. I carry my pump & cgm supplies onto the plane with me. Also I always carry dextrose tablets for lows.
Really?? My first air travel ever was in 1981, 15 years after my T1 diagnosis. I carried my brand new cassette- player sized glucose meter, syringes and vials.
My first flight as a T1D occurred about one month after my diagnosis and release from a military hospital where I had remained since the diagnosis. I had not travelled at all, spent much time in public, was still learning the rules for my new life, etc. but it went smoothly.
This was in 1970.
My only nervousness was getting through TSA the first time with diabetes supplies. Now it’s not an issue for me. But I do have to get “patted down” every time due to the pump.
I was 12 the first time I was on an airplane with T1D. I was excited.
I am always anxious traveling with T1D. The experience is never consistent. I never know whether I am destroying my equipment as I get different answers about where the equipment can go. I used to opt out and do pat downs . Suitcases I think go through xray. I’ve stopped worrying about it and I go through the machine and they pay me down anyway. Every time is different. I have just gone through the pre check process so we will see how that goes. I have also gone through “Clear” but not all airports have that.
Oh! You’ve done the PreCheck process! I’d love to know how that works! I’m considering it.
The real question is how much hassle do you go through even today to fly. On a recent trip, I spent a half hour with TSA as they tried to cope with a pump, CGM, and most troublesome the Frio packs that keep insulin cool. My encounter involved the usual swabbing of hands for nitrates (twice), pat-down (twice), scan of me (twice), and no fewer than three scans in three different scanners of the Frio packs. It involved two regular agents and a supervisor. I’m a suspicious 77. And take your belt and shoes off while you are at it. Not nervousness, but aggravation.
I almost missed a plane once because of the extra scrutiny and the swabby machine appeared to not be working…
So, yes, the extra scrutiny, while I get it and get it, can be frustrating.
I put the Frio packs in my checked bag. No problem. But i carry a bottle with my other “stuff”.
I was anxious because I was traveling to three time zones away. In time, I learned to keep my watch set at the zone I left from and follow that time on that day even though it meant I would probably have an extra meal or snack. I also didn’t know what would be available on the plain and packed all kinds of protein and other snacks.
*plane
I used to travel frequently all over the world for work. As others have said, dealing with airport security was the stressful part. I never knew what to expect, even at my home airport from one trip to the next. I had to learn to manage my irritation with people who believed they knew more about diabetes equipment and supplies than I did.
Agreed, Marty!
In my head (i.e. I never had to use this phrase) I thought, if I get any trouble from anyone I will say, “Oh, sure. I’m glad you know more than me. But, since you know so much, when I start throwing up, I’ll need to be near you… you might want to get a bucket.”
Oh well, my sarcastic self has stayed hidden. I clearly “have issues” with travelling! ;p
I was dxed in May ‘75 and went on a school trip to Mexico in October’75. Didn’t really have experience to be nervous.
Air travel has become a PITA….being herded like cattle from the minute we enter the airport until we finally reach our destination. Sitting for such a long time always screws up my BG. It’s definitely easier on a pump than with MDI.
It was back when we had refillable insulin pens. Mine was made of metal so I had to take it out of the bad after x ray and show them what it was. The TSA officer then showed it to all her inspectors so they would know what it was in case they saw it again.
The first time I flew after dx. I was still a kid traveling with my parents. It was in the late 50″s, flights from the Midwest to either coast took a long time. I’m sure my mother was anxious about keeping my insulin cool and getting me fed on time with the “right” food. As a kid I enjoyed the adventure of flying. Times have changed many things.
My first flight was in 1981. When I booked my ticket I asked for the “Diabetic” meals. I did not have a big time change between San Diego and Anchorage and took my NPH as usual. Coming back home I did change planes in Seattle. On the second airplane I met Mr. Ryan of Ryan Aircraft fame. He introduced himself to everyone and thought it was great that it was my first airline trip at age 19.
No, I flew before I had a pump, sensor and even a BGM. I only had to worry about syringes, fast acting and long acting vials of insulin and of course Tes Tape.
TSA and Medtronic not being on the same page is the part I get anxious about. Medtronic says no body scanner. TSA says what’s their problem. I’ve talked with TSA and a woman told me there isn’t an issue. I asked her she knew better than my pump company. She backed down and said well, no, but nothing would happen. I said to tell that to the 16-year-old in Salt Lake I think it was whose bump electronics got messed up. I will get very sick very fast without insulin. I had a TSA agent bully me into going through the scanner with my pump because he made fun of me saying it’s no different than having a cell phone near my pump. I talked with Medtronic later and they said the two are very different. I will never be bullied again. I get that you have an electronic device on you with a wire coming out of it. You can call 72 hours ahead and request an escort. I did that once, but it was one of the only times they didn’t fight me taking the pump off and going through the body scanner without it. Yes, hand swab. Don’t mind those. An agent told me the best way to go through is take pump off and put in the change cups they have and hand to an agent. They will ask can it go through X-ray belt. I say no. I go through body scanner. They swab. Then I get my pump back. When I travel with my husband I don’t mind that because he keeps his eyes on the agent. I don’t like being separated from it when traveling alone.
The TSA agents do NOT know!!! I’m so glad you won’t take your pump off anymore. It is a medical device and should not be placed anywhere near the bacteria laden cups or conveyer or anywhere that’s not on the body.
The body scanners can be worse than the X-Rays.
I am so sorry the TSA had made you take your device(s) off! That makes me angry for you. BUT, I am glad that you will not be bullied again!!!! Go Patricia!!!
Our choices are, unfortunately, not great no matter what. Getting patted down can be a little disconcerting.
I’m wondering if anyone who flies often had done the 5 year “TSA Precheck”? It’s expensive (IMO) at $85 for five years… but, if it stops the medical hassle, that would be great!
Re TSA PreCheck — no it does not help, except to give you priority access to the process. And only on the way out and with domestic security after disembarking at the US gateway airport. The international one == which includes PreCheck for only $15 more — has no impact whatsoever on security screenings, just gives priority access to Customs and Border Control. Crazy. Best way to travel internationally tends if you are aged or obviously physically challenged is to request wheelchair assistance, because that does tend to get you through all the check points quicker — but also tends to result in massive extra hanging around and anxiety one is going to miss the plane or die of thirst while waiting for the ‘pusher’. There are some airports where one cannot easily or at all get access to water (or food beyond what one has with one) when at one of the collection hubs. All airports are different; helpful if one can get info from someone who has been through the transfers recently if you can, but I know no easy way to do that. Tends in my experience to be much better at local spoke airports (if not themselves large) than at gateways and hubs like Atlanta or LHR/CDG/AMS in Europe.
For a while, whenever I would call TSA and I called before every flight, I got the precheck without paying. Going through metal detectors is no problem. Yes, pat downs are disconcerting and the agents can be rude. They don’t like it when you request a pat down. I will ask for one out in public because I don’t like being taken away especially when I am alone. And one time I got a VERY thorough pat down if you know what I mean.
I do know what you mean Patricia and I agree!
Thank you, Jim, for the info on the Pre-Check!!!
I was 5 and we were travelling overseas for my Dad’s job. My Dad was off doing dad things, so my Mom had to take all the kids and nervousness on that one.
However, I am not a “good” traveller as I get sick at the drop of a hat but we didn’t know that at the time.
So, on the way back to the states 5 years later, my parents decided to take a ship instead of a plane. (That was worse than the plane but they had great anti-nausea drugs on board.) This ship caught fire close to the beginning of the trip home and we had to go back for a week or two… which was AWESOME! (Not the fire! eep! but the extra time having fun.) But, that’s a whole other story.
Anyway, we got to New York City and later took the ferry to the Statue of Liberty. I didn’t feel well the whole time and, on the trip back to NYC, I threw up in Battery Park. My parents thought it had to do with the time change and problems dosing insulin (no meters back then!)… it took a lot more trips in planes, boats, trains, and automobiles before I realized it was motion sickness, not insulin problems.
More recently, I’ve had “interesting” experiences with TSA. The US is the worst for inappropriate transactions. One TSA agent in Atlanta _shouted_ across the entire security area “DIABETIC!!!” when I told her. And, I get to the airport 1/2 hour (or more) earlier than most so that I can be hand-patted. My insistence at being hand-patted is necessary, though! I am NOT willing to get on a plane with a potential pump problem!!!!!
The tubed pumps were always problematic and seemed to stop working anyway, though. I’m on Omnipod now which seems to do better in the air.
But, to answer the actual question:
I was 5, had been diagnosed for a few months, and was excited to be travelling! (Drawing pictures of happy boats and fishes.)
The anxiousness came later once I was older. But, boy did it arrive and take hold!!!!! :/
My problems with flying with a “tubed pump,” as you call it, were caused by the seat belt pressing on the tubing and blocking the flow. I now keep my pump in a belt with a pocket under my clothes, and keep it way above the seat belt.
Ah, KSannie! Interesting!
Makes me want to go back in time to see how I was sitting and where the sites were placed. Thank you for this important observation!! 🙂
Had to submit to a pat-down and luggage search my first few times. Recently was able to go through the body scan with my pump in my carry on. Was still patted down and had to pat myself down too! So it is very frustrating flying with T1D!
I should add that I have a secure bag inside my carry on for safe keeping my pump…I’m able to put it back on after getting through TSA.
I agree. I try not to fly now that I’m retired but had to fly from Vancouver to Ankorage in 2019 so we could cruise back.
Only on the sense that i kept checking to make sure I wasn’t forgetting any supplies
My answer is both yes and no, depending on many variables, few connected with T1D. When I used to travel a lot, I had a couple of bad hypo related incidents while on short layovers between flights, and those in general produced feelings of gratitude toward the good samaritans who went out of their way to help me. On the other hand, long ago on a flight over Cuba to Jamaica, the Cuban authorities were strict about keeping us to the proper corridor and we hit a bad thunderstorm (or it hit us, I don’t know), the plane dropped very fast and the food cart near me hit the ceiling. When the obviously terrified flight attendant maneuvered herself into the empty seat across the aisle from me and the first thing she did after strapping in was turn to me with her face as white as a sheet and ask me for a cigarette, I realized I’d been right to be terrified earlier. That taught me to always keep my seat belt fastened at all times! (one of the other flight attendants in the galley at the back was hurt quite badly, and was taken off the plane on a stretcher when we got to Kingston). Recently I have been pleasantly surprised by how understanding people have tended to be when I take shots before meals, although once someone reported me for something or other — scaring her child? The flight attendant involved that time was very understanding and helpful = I think she had a relative who took insulin.
Otherwise on planes, no particular T1D related issues. I could write a fairly long piece on the sometimes very sketchy places or bathrooms I have tested or injected on long trips overseas especially, but also domestically (some of those gas station restrooms!), but nowadays I tend to just do it in the airport and most people are too preoccupied or polite to even take notice! Except some of the smaller kids, of course, who do notice and often ask interesting questions about what I’m doing.
I love young children’s stares and questions. They are so open and honest. It’s a shame we teach them to change.
I feel the same as patriaca!!!
Concerned about going thru TSA with pump and CGM and whether X-ray or mm wave would affect them. I still avoid the mm system.
Ha! I was 12, flying from Tehran to Geneva to go to boarding school for 6 months. Leaving my mom and attending a new boarding school where I knew no one were my big worries. ( I really should write a book!)
This was 1962.
Please, do. ✍️🫠
I was a bit anxious the first time I flew with T1. Everything went very smoothly and the security people were very helpful.
No. I understand if someone is scared of flying, but i don’t get what this has to do with T1D. It is no different if I sat at home sofa or in an aeroplane. Crossing multiple time zones takes some planning, but that is easy enough.
The first time I flew on an airline was in the late 1980’s, a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I was concerned about my blood sugars, and also about airline folks taking my syringes. I packed some in my luggage and carried on some. I carried on my insulin, and almost all of my diabetic supplies. I never want those things out of my sight. I explained to the TSA (pre-TSA) and custom folks that I was a diabetic and was carrying my medical supplies. I had no problems.
I still approach the TSA’s with caution, making sure they know that I am wearing an insulin pump and a CGM. Generally, I’ve had no problems, except having a hand scanner used on me.
Not the flying part but it’s always stressful traveling with T1D. Having to remember all your supplies and how much space they take up in luggage, being on a different schedule, eating different food, etc all make BG management more difficult. Flying itself has never been the issue for me.
My first flight with diabetes I was not on insulin. But my second one I was, and I had a metal needle and glass syringe to keep in alcohol. It was 1971, and no one screened luggage, so it was not a problem. The first time I worried was flying from England to the U.S. a week after the shoe bomber. They were very suspect of all luggage and I could only have a single small bag on the plane. I stuffed it with syringes and insulin. We were moving back to the U.S.A. after living abroad for 15 years, and I needed to bring a 3-month supply so I could have time to move into a house and find a doctor to prescribe new supplies.
I mistakenly answer Yes, however, I never had any problems flying. I have best guess because I have been in Aviation since 1963, and flown well over 2000 flights, especially when I was an Airworthiness Inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). I flown all around the world. Ask me if I had problems after the flight because of time changes and I would comment very strongly, YES.
I have been in Sales my whole career and until recently traveled in a twenty state territory. During that time I was diagnosed with T1 and it was just one more thing to deal with. I no longer travel quite as often or extensively but that’s because my wife and I have 2 sets of twins and 5 girls under 7. 5 small kids is much harder than Air travel.
I was super nervous and it was horrible. They stabbed my pump and hands for bomb residue. They detained me for a long time. It was embarrassing and humiliating I learned not to wear it through the metal detector. If I put it in my purse they just thought it was a beeper and I got through with far less issues.