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Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
Hi all, my wife and I are off on honeymoon to Sri Lanka at the end of December - which is great timing for my new diagnosis of type 1 diabetes! I’m a bit worried about the flight, including whether I will be ok to wear a Libre 2 plus? The Diabetes UK travel fact sheet suggests talking to my airline (Qatar Air) but they were hopeless and just told me to talk to customs. Has anyone had Libre issues when flying?
Hi all, my wife and I are off on honeymoon to Sri Lanka at the end of December - which is great timing for my new diagnosis of type 1 diabetes! I’m a bit worried about the flight, including whether I will be ok to wear a Libre 2 plus? The Diabetes UK travel fact sheet suggests talking to my airline (Qatar Air) but they were hopeless and just told me to talk to customs. Has anyone had Libre issues when flying?
I’ve only flown within Europe, but i’ve never had a problem with wearing my Libre, Airlines just aren’t interested, security aren’t interested unless it pings when I go through the arch, (it sometimes does, but sometimes not), and if you have to stand in the body scanner, they look at it as you come out, nod, and wave you through. I’ve taken spare sensors through the hand luggage scanner too, and they’ve been fine. I think officially, Abbott will tell you not to take them through the scanners, but I think this is because they haven’t been officially tested in every type of scanner, rather than them stopping working.
I think officially, Abbott will tell you not to take them through the scanners, but I think this is because they haven’t been officially tested in every type of scanner, rather than them stopping working.
I have flown this year with Libre 2 sensors, going through many different airports and on different airlines without any issues. I do however ask the airport security to swab the spare sensors in my hand luggage rather than letting them go through the X ray scanners, never had an issue doing this. However I think there are some on this forum who let their spare sensors go through these X ray machines without any issues so I’m probably being overly cautious.
In some airports the archway type scanners trigger when I go through wearing a sensor, but these don’t cause any problems to the sensor at all. Not sure about the whole body scanners at some airports now, but I’m guessing these would be ok too given we can keep the sensors on in CT and MRI now.
Tagging in @helli who travels a lot with sensors and has lots of experience.
I have flown several times this year. You will be fine.
After encountering different comments from airport security at Heathrow, Gatwick, Prague, and Spain in terms of scanners ("Go straight through sir, it won't affect your pump or sensor", "Step this way and I will pat you down, just in case the scanner affects your sensor", "Thank you for pointing out your sensor, I need to swab it and your pump") I spoke directly to Abbott (Libre) and Insulet (pump). Both confirmed that it is fine to head through the scanners now wearing their technology.
Personally, I would suggest wearing a sunflower lanyard and prior to heading through the scanner pointing out your Libre. The security staff in the UK are keen to help as much as they can when they see that you are diabetic (in my experience). The lanyard also means that you can sail through passport control - really helpful on my last flight as the queue at Heathrow was monstrous and my BG was becoming low, out of nowhere: "step this way sir, there is a special lane here - we want to get you through as quickly as we can".
"The Sensor can be exposed to common electrostatic (ESD) and electromagnetic interference (EMI), including airport metal detectors. You can keep your Sensor on while going through these. However, the Sensor should not be exposed to some airport full-body scanners (i.e. x-ray and millimeter radio-wave). To avoid removing your Sensor, you should request another type of screening to be performed by the Security Officer. If in doubt about the type of security scan you are passing through, notify the Security Officer prior to proceeding through the airport security checkpoint."
Like @Lucyr I don't tell the airline or airport security about my diabetes tech unless I need to. My health condition is personal and none of their business.
The airline has never had any need to know unless when checking in luggage they ask if I have any sharp items in my hand luggage. I'm not sure if they ask any more because I don't usually check in luggage.
I have an insulin pump which cannot be x-rayed so I will airport security if (and only if) I am asked to go through the scanner. But cgms often go through the X ray when in the box and when attached (before I had a patch pump). They have never set off an alarm and work gone afterwards.
If you do not already have reusable insulin pens, I recommend getting them as it is easier for travel. However, make sure you take spares of everything, including reusable pens with you when you travel
I try to remember to put my insulin in the clear plastic bag (with toiletries). When I forget, some airport security guys pull me over but some don't.
