Diabetes and Air Travel: What You Need to Know (2024)

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Airports are busier than ever, airplanes more cramped, and by all accounts, air travel has been a mess since the Coronavirus pandemic. Add to that a diagnosis of diabetes, and the whole thing can spell big anxiety for anyone trying to fly — especially if it’s your first time flying with diabetes!

You’ve got little to fear. Airports serve zillions of people with diabetes every day, most of whom can go through security and on their journey without a hitch. In the United States, Diabetes is a federally protected disability. You’re allowed to bring everything you need with you.

General Tips

Give yourself plenty of time. Most people that bring diabetes supplies with them through security and on planes do so without experiencing the slightest delay or harassment. Most security personnel have already seen hundreds of insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), and they’ve many handled bags full of syringes and vials of insulin. You’re not likely to have any big issues — but it doesn’t hurt to arrive early, just to be safe. You may need to ask for special attention to avoid exposing certain diabetes devices to X-ray radiation.
Don’t check diabetes supplies. Packing diabetes supplies in checked luggage exposes them to the threat of delay, loss, and environmental hazards. Always bring your diabetes supplies in your carry-on, so they stay with you, and always have quick-acting glucose on your person (juice or glucose tabs) in case you go low. You don’t want to be stuck with hypoglycemia at a time where you can’t easily find sugar.
Bring extra supplies. You never know when a flight might get delayed, and you don’t want the headache of trying to fill prescription medicine in a new place. Bring more supplies than you think you need — more of your prescription medications (including insulin), more test strips, extra pump supplies, all of it. You can bring whatever you need with you, including snacks and beverages to treat hypoglycemia. The US Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights guarantees that your diabetes supplies cannot count against a carry-on luggage limit. (That’s right, a bag specially dedicated to diabetes supplies is a free extra bag, if you need it!)

Security Body Scanning

Airports mostly use two types of technology for body scanning: traditional metal detectors and Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) scanners. Either way, you should inform the security officer that you have a device on your body before you pass through the scanner.

The old-school metal detectors — the arch you walk through that goes “beep” if you have any metal on your body — are not believed to interfere with diabetes devices like insulin pumps or CGMs.
The newer full-body AIT scanners — the tube you stand in with your arms raised — are slightly problematic because they emit X-rays. Many diabetes tech manufacturers instruct you not to take your products into an AIT scanner.

Here is an incomplete list of popular diabetes devices that should not be worn in an AIT scanner:

Dexcom G6 sensors
Freestyle Libre 2 and 3 sensors
Medtronic insulin pumps
Tandem insulin pumps

If you have a different CGM or insulin pump, please check with the manufacturer to see what they recommend. Dexcom G7 sensors can be worn in an AIT scanner.

If you get herded into a line for one of these full-body scanners while wearing one of the above devices, your best option is to ask for a different screening method. Security personnel should be able to lead you to a metal detector, use a hand-held wand, or use a pat-down to screen you. They should never tell you to take off your devices.

The X-Ray Machine

Here we’re talking about the machine with a conveyor belt that scans your baggage.

Most insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors should not be placed on an x-ray machine. That means if you’re traveling with a pump or CGM that is in your carry-on luggage (and not on your body), you should flag it for X-ray personnel so that it can be screened individually.

It may also be worth pointing out that you have diabetes medications or other equipment, such as syringes, just to avoid confusion. Under normal conditions, medications and insulin can safely pass through X-ray and do not require additional screening.

Putting your diabetes supplies in a single see-through bag is the best way to ensure that you won’t get bogged down in security.

Liquids

Medical supplies are exempt from the TSA ban on liquids in containers greater than 3.4 ounces. That doesn’t just cover insulin and other liquid medications. If you want to bring juice, soda, or another sugary beverage for hypoglycemia rescue, you are entitled to carry it through security. Just be prepared to declare the liquid and explain why you require it.

If you do not want your juice or glucose gels (or other low snacks) opened for additional screening, you should inform the officer before screening begins. A pat-down and luggage search may be required (but at least they will not open your juice boxes!).

Pre-Boarding

As a person with diabetes, you are entitled to pre-board flights, no matter what seating zone you were originally assigned to. This may be helpful to get make sure that your carry-on luggage will stay close by during the flight, so that you’ll have easy access to hypo rescue snacks or insulin/pump supplies before the rest of the airplane boards.

Many people with diabetes, however, find it unnecessary to take advantage of this privilege.

Air Travel and Blood Sugar

Some people find that air travel almost invariably brings blood sugar challenges. For some, the stress makestheir glucose skyrocket all day, while others crash from all of the frenzied airport walking! Trial and error will help figure out how your body responds.

Be prepared. You should bring more hypo rescue snacks than you normally need — you don’t want to get stuck without sugar while up in the air.

If you need extra help, the US TSA provides support and assistance.

Read more about airport security, flying with diabetes, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), traveling with diabetes.