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If you wear an insulin pump, what do you do with it when going through airport security? Select all that apply.
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We carry a travel letter from my daughter’s endo with a list of supplies that she needs, including insulin (if it’s a larger supply), all dexcom and pump supplies, juice and water (only kid of ours allowed to go through security with liquids :)) and asking them to keep the insulin as cold as possible (quick look is ok) and use metal detecting wand to scan her, instead of the walk-through scanners.
I have been considering flying south this winter but am very concerned about Dexcom. I always get patted down but, as stated, I’m concerned about Dexcom. I went to an outdoor concert in the summer and got patted down instead of wanded. I was quite a few yards away from the officer with the wand and my Dexcom sensor still failed. Any ideas or suggestions?
The only two times I’ve flown since 9/11 related “security increases” circus was instigated, all I did was mention that I had an Insulin Pump, and before I could say another word TSA was escorting me around all electronic scanners for manual pat-down inspection.
I use to fly a lot before retiring and told the TSA agent it was a pump and not a pager or phone each time I went through security. Then I follow their instructions.
In the last 5 years I have only flown once, the TSA agents swabbed the pump for explosives.
With a pump I always got bonus screening, wanding and pat-downs.
Last time I went through security, I asked for a handcheck because I can never remember which of the devices is bad news for my CGM/Tandem pump combination. I had to wait 15 or 20 minutes. Then the first person to pat me down swabbed her hands, put the swab in the machine, and I flunked. So I had to wait further for a woman supervisor to be available. She took me in the private room, did a front of the hand pat down, swabbed her hands, and I flunked again. So they had to call an explosives expert to come look through my luggage and interview me. Fortunately my plane was late, so I didn’t need to be concerned about missing it. They told me it might have been something I’d encountered that was chemically similar to explosives. Since I spent the weekend in a chemistry building auditorium, it seemed possible. Anyway, if you’re going to try to avoid the machines, don’t cut the time too fine.
Thank you for that report ! So helpful and enlightening.
I have an Omnipod and it does not set off the metal detectors. When I had other pumps I disconnected and put it in my purse. It looks like a beeper in a purse. I also have TSA precheck which makes it a whole lot easier.
I always tell the agents I have a medical device attached to me. I usually get swabbed and have never had any issues, problems, or major delays so far, and I’ve flown frequently.
Historically i have always asked for a pat down because it just seemed like the easiest and safest route, but recently I’ve walked through the metal detector with my pump, but it always sets it off. On my last trip, i told them about my pump before i walked through. I then disconnected my pump, handed it to a tsa agent and requested it be hand inspected. They then did their thing (i assume testing my pump for bomb residue), handed me back my pump, and i was all done! It seemed a lot quicker than waiting for a tsa agent of the same gender to come do a pat down.
EXACTLY THE SAME! I’d much rather a pump be wanded than wait for a woman tsa agent for full body pat down.
I announce I wear an insulin pump, usually go through the full body scanner, then get a pat down and they swab my hands and my pump for radioactive chemicals. I haven’t noticed any device issues after going through the scanner.
Same. I am pre approved through TSA as we paid for the privilege
I travel a lot, most recently to Madagascar through Ethiopia. Neither African screener had ever seen a pump and were confused by it, especially when I refused to remove it. After much explanation they padded me down and let me pass through.
I don’t alert TSA to it at all unless they question me. Most of the time I’m guessing it goes undetected because I am not stopped or questioned. When there is a question, I inform them of the insulin pumt, they perform a wand scan and I continue on my way.
Sooo interesting.
I disconnect it and have them use the wand just on the pump to avoid full body search. My old Metronic pump did not set off metal detector but Tandem one does so I have to take it off. Thank goodness for TSA pre-check because I fly A LOT.
Tell an agent. Then I go through metal detector 50% of time, and get a pat down and hand swab every time.
I use a tslim that sets off metal detectors so I sow my pump and ask to go through full body scanner . There is no meaningful exposure to energy so pump is safe and then I get hands wiped to be sure there are no explosives in the pump. Sometimes there is a delay if no male assistance are available. Recently lost a juice box from security….
omg i’ve lost juice boxes to a concert event once and i ended up having to pay $10 for a lemonade, literally counting pennie’s out of my pocket since i was like 14 i had no idea what to do. #financial compensation for my lost juice boxes 😭😂
I flew yesterday and mentioned I had on a pump. She commented I might not want to go through the metal detector. I said no problem and she said okay. Omnipod and Dexcom work fine. That was the first time I have flown since getting the Dexcom a couple of months ago but I knew my Omnipod would be fine with whatever screening I would go through.
I think I tried every variation, but sending my pump through the x-ray machine wasn’t a good idea I think. It behaved strange on the plane! 🙂 So don’t do that!
I believe (don’t quote me) that the difference in air pressure on a plane can affect insulin going through a pump.
I’ve written about my experiences flying elsewhere. Nowhere that I fly is it acceptable to go through metal detector. My Medtronic pump does not alarm. However, everywhere I fly they want me to go through full body scanner and Medtronic has consistently said they do not recommend it. I do not want to get ill if something happens to my pump so I alert them but I would never follow their directions because they want me to go through the full body scanner. I have asked for a pat down but they then act like I am an extreme inconvenience. Last time, I took it off and handed it to a TSA agent – some of them take it and once one refused. I don’t like disconnecting from it especially if alone. If with family, I ask them to go first and then to never take their eyes off the agent. I wish TSA and Medtronic would resolve this. Obviously, Medtronic is not doing any testing. I know of at least one incident where a body scanner did mess with the electronics in the pump. I think it was with a teenager out of Salt Lake many years ago.
The problem is this. I do what they tell me because the alternative is awful. I’ve spent underwear time with the TSA after fighting them about cooking an insulin pump, and now I just pay for TSA pre-check because it isn’t worth it.
Oh, Tb-well, I am sorry to hear your story! I didn’t get to “underwear time” but once I specifically told an agent NOT to put my pump thru the xray and he did it anyway. I was FIT. TO. BE. TIED. (And it was ALL captured on video, courtesy of my husband.)
Another time, I was “randomly selected” to go through the scanner and when I refused on account of my medical devices, I was told to touch every one of my ports (I had three at the time), and then they swabbed my hands. I was really sweaty at the time which, apparently, mimics gunshot residue (GSR). So I spent quality time in a tiny room with zero airflow with a surly TSA supervisor who patted me down like she had something to prove. It was… unpleasant. Needless to say, there was no video coverage of this event.
I was told to not allow either the pump nor my CGM meter to go through x-ray or body scan, so I hand both over to an agent. They will then swab it to check for anything nefarious, and then, once the test is completed, return both to me. No harm no foul.
I have found many at airport security haven’t a clue whether these items can be put through the x-ray machines without damaging them, so I have just been proactive; by having the items at the ready, and then hand them over for manual inspection.
I have TSA PreCheck. I unhook my pump and hand it to the TSA agent who swabs it. I walk through the metal detector.
Before TSA PreCheck I requested a pat down. I had the body scanner interrupt and disable my CGM once. I refuse to go through a scanner with my CGM on.
Depends on the airport and country I’m flying out of.
My daughter wears a pod and since she is still a kid, she goes through the metal detector. We don’t mention the pod or dex on her body and that goes fine. I do have them hand check extra transmitters and sensors that I have ready to go in a separate zip lock bag.
I would wear it through the metal detector, but the tslim has metal and sets it off. So I always let TSA know I have a medical device that can’t go through the scanner and they’re generally kind and make it quick. It’s funny how different the pat downs are at different airports though!
I travel frequently and do not like to go through whole body scanners. I usually disconnect my TSlim pump and put it inside my purse. The x-rays have never damaged it.
If there is no metal detector for me to use I ask for a pat down. They are usually very polite, but sometimes there is a wait if they have no one available.
TSA Cares, they will take care of getting you through security when going to the airport. Just give them a call and let them know when you fly out and they will meet you at security and skip the line and get you on your way!!
I haven’t traveled via plane since the pandemic started, but when I did I often navigated the airport with no issues. I’m Pre-chek so 99% of the time go through the magnetometer with my Medtronic pump stowed in my pocket and my Dexcom on my body, and never “bonged the bonger” as I like to say. Occasionally I’ve had to go through the full-body scanner and as I’m standing there I tell the attendant I have an insulin pump. They have me rub it and then do a swab of my hands and in a minute or so I’m on my way. I also have an implanted defibrillator/pacemaker which worried me the first couple of times I went through the machines but it didn’t raise an alarm and didn’t cause any issue in the unit itself.
Last several times I’ve flown I called TSA Cares in advance and arranged to meet an agent at check-in. That has made it much easier at most airports.
Oh, Janis.. tell me! Are you able to avoid having your pump hand-wanded? Or, worse, being wanded yourself?
I tell security I am wearing an insulin pump and CGM and that I will need to walk around. Nearly all understand and accommodate – when they argue, I ask for the supervisor and explain and they accommodate
I’ve been going thru scanners for their very beginning, I was an FAA Airworthiness Inspector and did a lot of flying all over the world. NEVER had a problem with the scanner stuff except when I was flying back on a B747 freighter coming back from Amsterdam to the US going thru Chicago to take another flight to NY. The scanner when off indicating I had gun powder residue, however the B747 had a large munitions load on board. After I showed my credentials and told them where and how I got to Chicago. It was home free.
I disconnect my Tandem T-slim and hand to an agent for manual scanning. THEN I walk through the metal detector (I have TSA Pre-Chek). Before I had a T-slim (which ALWAYS activates the metal detector in EVERY airport I have attempted), I wore an animas which. thankfully, did NOT activate the metal detector.
I have pleaded with Tandem to remove the ferrous metal from their pumps (and it is definitely inside the pump, and not the clip), but it has (so far) landed on deaf ears.
I’ve started disconnecting and asking for a hand check of my pump and extra sensors. Then, I go thru metal detector. This works SOOOOO well. Otherwise they like to argue with me about how I can go thru the body scanner.
i usually disconnect and put my pump with my phone in my backpack/carry-on. I tell tsa I have a cgm and they put me aside for a fast residue screening and i’m in and out. i’ve found it to be the fastest way to get through tsa without any more questions and concerns.
I disconnect my pump, hand it to TSA agent for hand scan and go through metsl detector.
I’ve had implanted devices before the diagnosis of diabetes due to epilepsy and have had to have a pat down. I haven’t walked through the metal detector due to it interfering with a responsive neurostimulator for almost a decade.
TSA Pre-check is great because the scanner is just a metal detector. No need to remove the pump or CGM. I always declare both devices and TSA pats me down every time. I take no chances on the full-body scanner scrambling the devices.
I hate this part of the traveling process and I’ve been discriminated against by a TSA agent when I expressed my concern. The director I spoke to afterward was very empathetic, though.
I fix and build computers and the memory of the computer gets cleared from strong magnetic waves. I went on a cruise and had to go through security . The security person stated that he was impressed with my knowledge and paperwork I had with me.