The comments I've seen on this topic are several years old, so I thought I'd put the question out there again. I will be getting a Dexcom G4 in the next day or two, and will be taking a trip shortly after that. Is the CGM OK with going through the TSA x-ray machine? My airport uses the full body scanners, so I assume the sensor will show up. Any worries? Anyone have recent experiences with flying and a CGMS that you can share? Thanks!
I just flew internationally last month with my Dexcom G4. Although they insisted that the scanner would not damage the sensor, I decided to opt-out of the scanner and be patted down instead. I simply explained that I wear a medical device and would prefer not to have it go through the scanner. The pat-down was not particularly invasive or offensive, and took very little extra time to complete. TSA personnel were professional and courteous to me at all times.
I traveled through several other airports (Zurich, Tel Aviv, Vienna). Each time I passed through security, I explained that I wear a medical device. The receiver sometimes went through the xray machine, sometimes remained on my belt. The transmitter sometimes was detected by the xray machine and sometimes was not. In only one other airport (Zurich, I think) did they want me to be manually examined/patted down. Otherwise, I had no problems through security in any of the airports.
I did not carry a medical letter with me, though I understand some people have advised doing so.
Hi there,
I have a G4 and just flew across the country with it for the first time. You should know that, according to the manual, you should NOT put the receiver through the x-ray machine but instead ask to have it visually inspected. The manual does not say why this is, and it doesn't say that it will harm the receiver. So when I flew, I just kept it in my purse and put it all through the machine, and it has been fine. But if you're concerned, you might want to call Dexcom and see what they say.
As for the full-body scanners, I don't like them anyway, plus I was pregnant when I flew, so I just requested a pat down. Both TSA officers were very courteous and didn't question why I wanted the pat down. I did forget to tell the first one that I had the sensor on, and when she felt it, she was like, "What the heck is that?!" but was fine once I told her what it was.
And FYI it's fine (according to the manual) to leave the receiver on while in the air, which is nice, especially for a long flight.
Good luck and have a good trip! Enjoy your G4, too, I love mine!!
I think I saw somewhere on Dexcom's site that the xray machines won't harm the receiver, but not sure. Didn't seem to harm mine. I did tell the TSA officer where the sensor was, and when they patted me down, they avoided that location. I'm not sure how good i feel about that, security-wise, but appreciated it at the time.
I have the Dexcom and fly quite a bit. I put the receiver in my small backpack. I wear the sensor on the back of my my upper arm, so the regular scan usually does not pick up the sensor but the full body scan does. Sometimes the TSA agents say “medical device?”. Sometimes I need to say “I have Type 1 diabetes. That is the sensor for my continuous glucose monitor”. I wear a tank top with a sweater so I can just pull down the sleeve of my sweater and the TSA agent can see the sensor; I have not had any problems at all. I do carry a letter of medical necessity but have not needed to use it in years as TSA has gotten more used to these devices.
I just flew internationally last month, and did not encounter any full body scanners in Europe, so did not have to explain the sensor.
Nancy,
While I can't answer to the specifics of the Dexcom, I can answer to the MM sensor, transmitter, and receiver. And that is to say I have had absolutely no problems with it. I go through both the full body scans and have a pat down, since almost always these days they check my pump for explosives residue and always ask about the sensor (usually in my thigh.) I have never had to go through anything more than the check right in the TSA area,nothing more invasive like a strip-search. This goes for both US and European airports.
The good news for me is that I find one of the biggest benefits of CGM is to keep me on track while traveling. I always wear it on trips.
Good luck with your travels.
Dave
T1 55 years.
Just got back from Australia; no problems. Take it off before screening, make sure you tell the TSA inspector, beforehand, about the sensor and its location. They were quite baffled by it all, but it was no problem, really.
Oh yes, I did have the one Bozo, at LAX , but I asked him to call his supervisor over and he told the inspector to let it go.
Have a nice trip, you'll be fine.
Just recently returned (6 Jan 14)from an international trip. I chose to not have my Omnipods and DexCom receiver x-rayed as I have had troubles with "failures" on other trips so took that extra precaution. I also,for the first time took a physicians letter. If you are only going to one country, I would concur with someone else's recommendation that the letter be translated into the local language. The "no x-ray" request of my medical devices resulted in the "pat down procedure which was done very professionally. Other than the time it took to unpack and repack my carryon this plan worked well. The CGM was most helpful in keeping track of BG level.
I have a Dexcom 4 Platinum CGM system. I just returned from a 23 day tour of Eastern Europe. I had no problems at all. I went through four preflight security scanners. TSA noted my sensor/transmitter. I explained what it was and they did not even ask to see it. My monitor went through the x-ray machines four times with no effect to its function. Now the jet lag that was another thing. I went forward eight time zones going over and eight coming back. These jet lack really messed with my glucose levels but with Dexcom monitoring my glucose levels I was able to correct when necessary. I count carbs and now comes the real carb guessing game because of the food I ate that I had never seen before. But when you travel over seas you have to expect to have a few issues with the jet lag and the food.
Gosh, I've become so cavalier about it that I sometimes let it go through the scanner, don't carry any kind of "letter" and it's hunky dory. Enjoy your trip.