Hi!! I’m going to see my Grandparents in wisconsin in a few days and due to taking a van out that we plan to leave there we will be flying home. This is the first time I’m flying wih my pump and was wondering what most people do? Do you tell them about the pump or not? I’ve heard some people say they don’t say anything and they go through just fine but I’m afraid then I’ll peep and they and they’ll freak out but I think I’d rather try that then tell them and have them make a big deal out of it. So what do most people do? I really need some advise!!! 
Check out Minimed’s page on travel (regardless of what pump you are on, they have some advice and some forms to print out and carry with you). I travel quite a bit and have had no trouble with my CGM. Once, before 9-11 I had a security agent refuse to let me through the gate with a pump at all. I waited 15 min for him to go on break and walked right through security without an issue. I’ve never ever had any other trouble. But, to make my life easier, I simply remove the resevoir from the pump, leave the pump on, and place it in my baggage to be inspected. I tuck the reservoir full of insulin and infusion set into a pocket or down my pants so they aren’t noticeable. I do all of this just standing there, so if anyone sees me they can’t think I was trying to hide anything. If you do this right before it goes through the x-ray, then you are only without the pump a few minutes and if you leave it on, you will be dosed with anything you’ve missed. I’ve never had this be a problem and it avoids any potential problems.
I don’t say or do anything else. The minimed site did have a red and blue informational packet that could be printed out that explains to security about the pump. I do carry that, but have never had to take it out to show anyone.
The other thing to be aware of is that pressure changes in air can change your BG a little, so test when in the air just to make sure (I do that sitting in my seat, I try to be discrete, but I really don’t make it any big deal).
http://www.minimed.com/help/lifestyle/
I fly back home several times a year and when I go through security I just hold my pump in my hand and when it’s my turn to walk through I just tell the security person I have an insulin pump.I haven’t found one yet that doesn’t know what it is, and it never sets the alarm off. They just say "o.k. Have a nice flight."They never even stop me when my bag with my meter and stuff goes through x-ray.DO NOT put the pump through X-ray it will kill it. If you go to the TSA website there is a section about regulations for people with medical conditions and diabetes is listed on there. I have heard about air pressure possibly effecting the pump .I personally have not experienced this,but you may want to talk to your doc just in case. Also I believe there is a section on the minimed or medtronic website about recommendations for traveling with diabetes.Hope the information is helpful.Have fun and a safe trip.
x-ray doesn’t hurt the pump a bit, “they” do tell you not to put it through, though. Supposedly the x-ray might hurt the insulin.
Oh and… with the recent advent of the whole body scans, if you get one of those, just tell the security that you have a pump and they’ll tell you to stand and hold it out from your body. It’s rather amusing, actually, the few times I’ve done this, the security guard gets on a 2-way and says “insulin pump, this person has an insulin pump, note the insulin pump, copy?” Reminds me of the old cop shows when they are chasing someone with a gun and excitedly radioing each other.
Bottom line, relax, it’ll be fine whatever you do.
I dunno.I had a bad experience with this a few years ago where I accidentally put it through one and it died.I was told it was from the x-ray.I also used to work in a nursing home laundry room and the static from the industrial dryers was so bad that it killed one of my pumps.I just wouldn’t risk it.It’s too much of a pain in the butt to wait for them to send a new one.I didn’t know about it possibly hurting the insulin though.
I fly every few weeks and I just leave anything D-related attached, warn them as I’m going through, and usually that’s it. Most pumps, etc don’t have any metal to set off the detectors. If it does set something off, they’ll pat you down and that’ll be the end of it - just plan a few extra minutes just in case. Sometimes, I disconnect my pump and tell them that it can’t go through the x-ray and they’ll just put it in a basket and inspect it by hand which helps to avoid the whole patting-down thing. I used to send it all through the X-ray without any problems, but my DNE yelled at me when I told her about it…
Ive flown may times with my pump. I just tell them its an insulin pump. Pull up my shirt to show the infusion site. They have all been aware of pumps and Ive never had a problem.
Enjoy your trip.
Thanks I’m thinking I’ll do want you said, hold it while going through. Because I wear it in a case at my waist under my shirt so just telling them wouldn’t work cause they can’t see it.
Thanks I’ll be sure not to put it through the exray!
Thanks
Lol that does sound funny Thanks
Thanks for all the advise. I’m gonna check out Minimed’s page. I do have a Minimed pump too
If you do this, you might want to remove the case if it has metal…otherwise you’ll be patted down for sure. The less you carry through the detector, the better
I showed to them as I was going through this past week flying. They acknowledged it and waved me right through. One of the guards even mentioned that they don’t usually set off the alarm. Not one issue whatsoever. a friend of mine who is a TEA officer mentioned that they would rather know than be surprised. Or if they see a bulge from the pump they may be suspicious. In fact a porter helping out in the line told me to take off my cell phone. When I told him it was an insulin pump he gave me a strange face. I told home I couldn’t take it off and a TSA guard told him I couldnt take it off! Didn’t have one issue with the pump or the supplies on either leg of my trip this past week.
I always tell the security screener, before I go though the metal detector. It is almost never an issue, I have had a screener, demand i remove it and place it on the belt. THat was shortly after 9-11 however and it has never happened again. On the rare occasion something sets off the metal detector, they do a pat down seraph and i have never had an issue with the pat down search. I know all of this sounds a little scary, but by the time you get through your first security screening, you will be a old had.
rick phillips
Thanks so much Glad to hear your positive story about it
Thanks
I just got back from my first trip since on the pump. I went through the metal detector and I got an alarm. I let the officer know I was wearing an insulin pump and he said that wouldn’t set it off, I must have touched the side of the detector. He was right. On the way home I didn’t even mention the pump, just walked through.
Thanks!! I’m glad to hear it went good!!!