Looking forward to my first trip since I’ve started with Dexcom. Just have a few questions:
Does dexcom work accurately on the plane?
What do I need to do for the security checks? I assume I can’t go thru xray. Do I need a note from my doctor about the CGMS and the CGMS supplies I bring along?
You can go through the x- ray or naked scanner or metal detector. It won’t set off a metal detector. Just walk through the machine like everyone else and mention to the tsa officer that you have a “medical device” (don’t overwhelm them by trying to call it a cgm or anything other than medical device) “medical device” is the term they are trained to recognize. You’ll walk through, they’ll ask you to touch the device with your hands then they will wipe your hands with a swab and put it in the explosive detector. It’ll be negative and you’ll be on your way. Dexcom will provide you with an explanation letter of your medical device if you feel it’s necessary— in my experience it is definitely not needed.
Tip of the trade— if you use a lot of hand creams or lotions or particularly if you have a baby and use diaper cream wash your hands thoroughly first
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Do you lose signal while you are on a plane or does it work the whole time?
It works the whole time… actually let me qualify that, I’m not completely sure if it will work with an iPhone on Bluetooth if you put it on airplane mode— but if you don’t it will work, and the receiver will work.
I just traveled for the first time since getting my dexcom…it doesn’t work when on airplane mode (with my iPhone). I would periodically take it off airplane mode quickly just to check my numbers. All looked accurate when we landed!
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Here is what the manufacturer says. You can go through metal detectors with your sensor and transmitter, no problem. The use if AIT imaging scanners has not been studies, the manufacturer will not warranty walking through those scanners, you should opt for a manual screen. Do not put your receiver or extra transmitters through the belt x-ray or through checked luggage. Ask for a manual screen.
I have pre-check, I ask for a manual check of my receiver. If there is no metal detector I ask for a manual screen and refuse the AIT. You can risk violating these rules but remember the manufacturer won’t warranty violation of these limits.
ps. The Dexcom works on low power bluetooth and works find on the plan.e
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I have an iPhone 6 and when I put my phone in airplane mode, it automatically turns Bluetooth off. I then need to turn Settings>Bluetooth On, so that the Dexcpm G4 receiver can communicate with my iPhone during the flight. Then you can monitor your blood glucose as usual.
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I’ve run my Dexcom receiver through the Xray machine many times. I never had a problem. They (Dexcom) just haven’t had it approved for that, probably because the FDA’s sausage fingers make it too expensive to get something like that approved. But I’ve done it more times than I can count, and never had a problem with it.
If you use the Dexcom receiver instead of the phone when on the airplane, you don’t need to worry about airplane mode. And once you land, you can go back to using your phone.
When I speak of the receiver, I’m referring to the one that comes with it. I know most people don’t use these anymore.
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Wow! I didn’t know it would work in airplane mode! Thanks!!! U just made my night!’
I like using the unloved receiver. I don’t mind carrying an extra device. It works well on the airplane without the phone. I like keeping the iPhone on bluettooth since it feeds my watch and that’s where I look the most. My system is a veritable kluge of BT frenzy. My wireless bridge for my Loop APS rounds out this traveling circus!
Just tell them it’s a clock you made for a science experiment. Apparently that works.
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I would never put my Dexcom receiver through an X-Ray or a AIT. It has nothing to do with the FDA or the TSA. Dexcom didn’t test it and says not to do it. If it fails you have a choice on getting it covered under warranty… Either lie to Dexcom about your running it through the X-Ray or accept having to pay for another receiver.
I hear ya! But from knowing the technology at work in the receiver, I knew the xray machine wouldn’t hurt it. I do it because dealing with the TSA more than I have to is something I try to avoid. And I don’t want TSA people rummaging through all my syringes and insulin vials and other diabetic goodies also, which is what would happen if I opened up the “manual check” can of worms.
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I use my Dexcom G5 directly with my iPhone. In terms of being on the plane, all you have to do is switch it to airplane mode, and then manually turn back on the bluetooth, and it works the whole time just fine.
In terms of security, I go through the scanners with my sensor/transmitter on. I used to mention it, but I’ve stopped since not once has it gotten flagged/have I had to show the letter I carry or get a pat down. I wear it on my lower stomach; I don’t know if other sites would be more noticeable. Also, the transmitter has continued to work just fine.
Back when I used the Dexcom receiver, I first used to pull out my letter to avoid putting it through the receiver, then decided it was silly and put it through anyway with no harm whatsoever. Dexcom is just covering their a** because they haven’t explicitly tested that (and don’t want to be liable if something goes wrong), but there’s no reason to think it would be a problem. Your comfort level with that may vary though.
The link to the Dexcom Airport and Travel Guide: How to Go through Airport Security and Fly with Dexcom CGM | Dexcom
It only covers sensor, transmitter and receiver use. Little mention of iPhone use.
I have copied the warning info from my Dexcom and T-Slim user manuals. They say not to expose it to the imaging technology - and I would trust the device mfr more than the TSA. Since I pay out of oocket, I don’t want to risk ruing it.
On another topic, I have learned (through a bad experience) to disconnect my pump during take off and landing. Changes in air pressure caused my pump to infuse insulin without me knowing I had an “accidental bolus” I dis connect, and reconnect once we are crusing. It is such a short time that being disconnected doesn’t effect me. When I didn’t know about the accidental infusion, I was inb a huge airport for the first time, and it was not a comortable situation.
Oh absolutely I wouldn’t trust the tsa to tell me absolutely anything but crap. Those people should all be working at Taco Bell… but in my own estimation I’ve not had any reservation in just butting my receiver through the X ray in my coat pocket where it usually is every time… I fly multiple times every month and just don’t have time to make a big deal of it… and I have no logical concerns of the X-ray damaging my dexcom receiver… I put laptop computers, iPads, iPhone, gps, etc through the same process all the time and it never hurts anything… and none of those devices are specifically approved by their manufacturer in that regard either… they just don’t legally have to point out that they haven’t received that specific approval because they’re not medical devices regulated by the FDA
My dex rep told me the receiver was ok to go through the x-ray belt, so i have done it many times.
Do they dest differently in the states than in europe?
body scanners i wouldn’t put the receiver through though, but i’ve never had to go through one before.
The sensor and transmitter are fine going through AIT or X-ray. It is the receiver that is a problem.
yeah. i know, but my rep told me that i could put my receicver through the x-ray belt, so i was wondering whether americans test the stuff differently than the europeans, or if the receivers are different at the end, where one can go through it and the other can’t?