Flying with meds - diabetes

**Mrs Brizzle** · 05-02-2008, 23:58

Some advice please. We are off in about 5 weeks and mother in law who is coming with us this trip has just been told her diabetes is so bad now she must inject with insulin. She was previously controlling it with tablets so we are not familar with any flying protocols.

So my questions are, where does she pack her needles for the flight and does the insulin require refrigeration?

How do other diabetics cope with their medication when travelling?

and what about her travel insurance, I presume she must have to declare it before we leave?

Help [msnscared]

**florida4sun** · 06-02-2008, 00:39

Not a problem just take it with you and let them know about the needles when you check in. You will need insurance that will cover you/

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Mrs Brizzle
Some advice please. We are off in about 5 weeks and mother in law who is coming with us this trip has just been told her diabetes is so bad now she must inject with insulin. She was previously controlling it with tablets so we are not familar with any flying protocols.

So my questions are, where does she pack her needles for the flight and does the insulin require refrigeration?

How do other diabetics cope with their medication when travelling?

and what about her travel insurance, I presume she must have to declare it before we leave?

Help [msnscared]
[/quote]

**florida4sun** · 06-02-2008, 00:44

Most insulin nowadays does not require refrigeration, although your back up stock should be kept cool to prolong its life. But a couple of days at room temp is not a problem.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by florida4sun
Not a problem just take it with you and let them know about the needles when you check in. You will need insurance that will cover you/

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Mrs Brizzle
Some advice please. We are off in about 5 weeks and mother in law who is coming with us this trip has just been told her diabetes is so bad now she must inject with insulin. She was previously controlling it with tablets so we are not familar with any flying protocols.

So my questions are, where does she pack her needles for the flight and does the insulin require refrigeration?

How do other diabetics cope with their medication when travelling?

and what about her travel insurance, I presume she must have to declare it before we leave?

Help [msnscared]
[/quote]
[/quote]

**Katys Grandad** · 06-02-2008, 00:59

Lots of previous threads on this - a quick search should answer all your questions on this subject.

**Mrs Brizzle** · 06-02-2008, 01:15

Thanks, I did try earlier but for some reason the search returned no results when I typed in diabetes. However I just typed insulin and tons have come up including a florida guide which I shall print off for her.

**Lesley S** · 06-02-2008, 12:29

You also need to take a doctors letter with you, so the airline will let you travel with needles. All medication needs to be taken with you on the plane, try and put it in a cool bag that you can carry. We have already phoned our airline (Virgin) and let them know that he is travelling with needles and has diabetes.

We are having to do this when we take my step son with us, he is on insulin as well.

**MICKEYSDEN** · 06-02-2008, 12:55

My daughter has type 1 diabetes controlled with a pump and we never have a problem travelling to the US, we have a letter from her nurse which we keep in her passport, we use the FRIO cool bags to keep her insulin cool during travel and we pack all of her medication in one hand luggage bag and let staff know at the front desk and security what we are carrying. We also carry food for her journey and buy a sugar drink just before we get on the plane.

Do check with your insurance as you may have to change Companies, Diabetes UK have great insurance Companies for you to use, just check on their web site.

Check with your nurse for timings of when to inject the insulin for your travel, Florida is 5 hours behind so you will need to plan the injections and when to eat.

Enjoy your holiday.

**CarolAnn** · 06-02-2008, 14:03

I carry beta interferon in prefilled syringes, has to be kept chilled..this is a real challenge, on a flight to the states, but we manage, we always carry a letter as my medication as it can not go through the xray machines (not sure if same is true of insulin?) Nearly always causes some sort of interest, some read the letter at the checkpoints, some do not.[msneek] It is kept with me at all times. Been travelling with the medication for 7 years now, twice a year, and so far all fine.

**Mrs Brizzle** · 06-02-2008, 15:14

Thanks all, she is to see the doc on Friday and I have advised her to ask for a letter to go with any meds she has to take.

She is still in denial though and says she is going to have one more go at persuading him that she will be good and to see if she can manage without insulin until after holiday.

I don't rate her chances though!

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