I was just reading about someone traveling by air. In reading the responses, I came up with a question. I have a Medtronic Real-time CGM. y manual says I have to take off the transmitter and turn it off for travel. It seems like others leave it on, which would be much better, since I could keep track of things while in the air. So, my question is, Do I have to take off the transmitter while on a plane, or can I stay connected? Thanks for any help.
You can leave it on and running thru security and onto the plane for the whole entire trip. I fly 4-8 flights per week and have no issues or problems.
I travel pretty often for business and I always leave it on. I've never had any issues. I figured if the FAA allows most electronic devices to be on during flights then so can my CGM.
I've also gone through scanners a lot more than I would care to admit and hadn't see a single issues as a result.
Joan,
Not sure if I have just been overly cautious, but I have been advised by my trainer from Medtronics and also the Medtronic help line not to leave the transmitter connected when going thru TSA screens, etc. I also received this info in the Medtronic newsletter vie email recently. Just an fyi.....and good luck! See attached file....
Donna
I agree. Internsational security is sometimes a little more inquisitive(?) so I always tell them I have a transmitter implanted, "right here" and have left it on and running. The CGM itself, I just put it in the little tub, or request a manual screening if I see they are using some older x ray equipment. No problems either way.
Don't worry and Have a nice trip!
Thanks everyone for all of the help. I'm flying this week and I plan to leave it on.
Iam travelling quite often and never turn off my CGM. Please note that during the flight (sometimes) monitoring is showing lover BG level that it is in reality.
Just started Dexcom G4 2-1/2 weeks ago and within a week of that took my first flight. i had called Dexcom before flying because I found their G4 manual a bit confusing as to what parts could go through the conveyor belt X-Ray as opposed to keeping it with you as you walk into the device which spins around you once. Customer support told me it was okay to send the receiver through the xray conveyor belt and to keep the sensor/transmitter on while I went through the spinning device. I had also read the TSA website which made it clear that I could ask for a hand screening of anything I didn't want to put through a machine scanner. Well I asked for a hand screening of the receiver because I didn't want to take a chance damaging this new device I had waited several weeks to get. At LaGuardia Airport they took the receiver for hand screening and literally passed it back to me upon going through the spinning contraption. At Reagan, they subjected the receiver to a bit more of an inspection when I asked it to be hand screened, but maybe about 30 seconds of "what is this" type of questions and "open it up and let's see". I was literally asked if it was an Ipod shuffle. Both airports I kept the sensor/transmitter on as I walked through the spinning contraption. In both cases, no one said a thing nor asked for if I had anything under my shirt or asked to do an additional pat down. Feel better about the whole process since I was expecting to be inconveninced a lot more than it turned out to be.