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Can non-diabetic people carry insulin and needles through airports?

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beckysalvage

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hi everyone,

I am a Type1 diabetic and have been for 25 years. I have recently started a job in Costa Rica, where I have to pay for my insulin which is expensive. However I still have some in the UK (I stocked up before I left the country!) and my parents are coming to visit me soon. Does anyone know if other people can carry the insulin and needles through airport customs/security etc without me being with them? Thanks 🙂
 
Hi @beckysalvage, welcome to the forum 🙂 I can't answer your question personally, but have moved your post to its own thread so that it doesn't get overlooked. Hopefully someone else can help, we have quite a few travellers 🙂
 
A lot of this will be down to the airline, a short message to them will confirm this. Also you need to clarify wether it will be in hand luggage or hold luggage. Make sure you get any decision in writing so that this can be shown at check in.
 
Owen said:
A lot of this will be down to the airline, a short message to them will confirm this. Also you need to clarify wether it will be in hand luggage or hold luggage. Make sure you get any decision in writing so that this can be shown at check in.
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Insulin would have to be in hand luggage, to prevent risk of it freezing in the hold 😱
 
Northerner said:
Insulin would have to be in hand luggage, to prevent risk of it freezing in the hold 😱
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Good point, well made. In that case it is essential to have a written consent from the carrier. Even then your have a go hero security guard is likely to flex his attitude, but will always back down.
 
Think I'd also check with the embassy of the country you are in as some countries have quite strict rules about who can have and carry what. It could be a letter from you and from a doctor would be required but check to make sure first
 
This might come across as a bit dishonest, but UK authorities don't tend to demand to see the magic letter (which is worthless anyway as there is no international standard letter), so a passenger carrying insulin could just say they have diabetes - assuming they're asked. I've never even had to say I have diabetes, I just say there's blood sugar testing equipment and insulin in my hand luggage.
 
beckysalvage said:
Hi everyone,

I am a Type1 diabetic and have been for 25 years. I have recently started a job in Costa Rica, where I have to pay for my insulin which is expensive. However I still have some in the UK (I stocked up before I left the country!) and my parents are coming to visit me soon. Does anyone know if other people can carry the insulin and needles through airport customs/security etc without me being with them? Thanks 🙂
Click to expand...

My aunt use to carry her sister's medication, including her insulin when they travelled by air to Zurich regularly to see my cousin. They also travelled to Canada a couple of times. The first aunt always joked that she rattled when they travelled together. The second aunt was wheelchair bound so didn't carry much hand luggage. I think they presented quite a sight when they travelled together. They were quite old when they last travelled about 10 years ago.

Found this on Lonely Planet from 3 years ago: I live in Costa Rica and there is no need for a prescription to buy insulin and needles. The cheapest place for me to buy Lantus is Farmacia La Bomba in San Pedro, just outside the city center to the east. It's around $65.00 USD. Every taxi driver in the city knows where it is.

Might help?
 
Never been asked whats in the Frio bag. Never asked to see the letter from doctor. Never been asked to see my prescription. Airports have so many diabetics travelling thro each and every day its commonplace to come across one. Had to do my injections in my seat on aeroplane, stewardess saw me and asked if I would like either red or white wine with my dinner. At the x ray I just put it all in the tray, dont say anyfhing and it pops out and I pick it up and off we go. Yes I think someone without diabetes could bring it thro for you no trouble.
 
My husband always carries half of my diabetes stuff on our travels and neither of us have ever been asked to show the magic letter. Like Deus we both just say there is diabetes stuff in the bag.
 
Could you buy your needles locally and just get the insulin brought in from your stock over here? I am assuming the needles are the problem, not the medication which should be in your hand luggage and declared at immigration.
 
I can't see there being much of an issue with them carrying it through. I've never had a doctor's letter and in the past I've had packets of syringes along with insulin, lancets, bg meter etc in my hand luggage and no one said a thing. The only time I had a problem was when we travelled back from Antigua in 2005 (obviously, everywhere had heightened security after 9/11). I'd had no issues on the way out from Manchester. The security person in Antigua seemed concerned about my Novopen - I explained what it was but she asked to see a doctor's letter. When I said I didn't have one she said it would be the pilot's decision. Incredibly, he, along with all the flight crew, was stood in the queue behind us (no fast track for them at that airport) I explained to him what it was and he just shrugged his shoulders and said fine. I must have got an honest face. :D
 
Dear Everyone,

Thank you so so much for your messages and responses! It is so great to have such an active community on here!

I also have never had any issues carrying my insulin through security (like you say - just throw it in the x-ray, say you have diabetes and move on). I suppose the worst that would happen is that my parents would be told they couldn't take it though and it would have to be thrown away (sorry NHS!)

The airline have said that it is up to the local security guards at each airport and I should contact them. I have no idea how to do this, but have asked for a confirmation in writing that this is what needs to be done.

Thanks everyone and Happy Christmas from Costa Rica!

Becky
 
Hope everything goes without a hitch and you can save a bit of money on insulin to spend on more entertaining goodies! 🙂 Have a Happy Christmas and a great 2017 🙂
 
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