I started visiting a diabetes clinic in December 2009. Before that, I had lost seven kilograms in the last six months and felt tired in the evenings. My long-term control of diabetes was very bad, which was evidenced by its long-time presence. In May 2010, my diabetologist put forward a proposal for an insulin pump. It’s a small electronic device that mimics the way a healthy pancreas works and is intended for continuous use. My diabetes is now, thanks to the insulin pump, well under control. My travel habits haven’t really changed much, but I do need to pay special attention when it comes to planning my trips. When I first got the diagnosis, there were a lot of questions that popped up in my head, especially relating to travelling by plane and travelling circumstances in general. I’ll point out some of the more important ones below. I’ll focus on the others some other time.
The airport security systems shouldn’t affect the insulin pump. You do, however, need to put the insulin pump in “airplane mode” when on a plane, which means some functions will be disabled (e.g. Bluetooth), in order for the device to comply with airline’s regulations. Quick and extreme changes in air pressure or temperature can affect the insulin delivery, especially if there are air bubbles in the cartridge or the tube – in other words, if you’re on a plane and there’s no air balance during the take-off. You can still opt for the alternative method of treatment and use an insulin pen instead.
When using the insulin pump, you often also have to use a system for continuous glucose monitoring, which becomes part of your life (sensor/transmitter and receiver/app, smart watch, smartphone). Just like the pump, this system can also be used on the plane according to the airline’s regulations.
When you’re wearing a sensor and are about to go through the security checkpoint, ask for manual inspection or a full-body pat-down and a visual inspection instead of walking through the full-body scanner or advanced imaging technology (AIT), also called millimetre wave AIT scanner, or putting any part of the sensor in the X-Ray device that checks your luggage. The magnetic fields and heat could damage your device’s components, which could result in inaccurate glucose readings or the device not sending warning messages. Without the correct glucose readings and alarms/warnings, you could ignore very low or very high glucose levels. You can, however, wear your sensor when walking through the metal detector. If you do that, use the system for continuous glucose monitoring until you leave the security check area. You also need to pay special attention to the sensor for its safe and efficient use. The next step is to avoid using sunscreen and insect repellents. Some skin products can cause the plastic on the device to crack.
You can store sensors at a room temperature on in a fridge – the temperature for storing sensors should range from 2 to 30 degrees Celsius. Insulin should be stored long-term at temperatures ranging from 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, and as a reserve up to two weeks at temperatures up to 30 degrees Celsius. You can store the pump in your main luggage, as it can be stored at temperatures ranging from –20 to +50 degrees Celsius during transport. The temperature drops considerably with altitude when travelling by plane. However, there’s no need to worry because the temperature in the plane’s cargo hold is kept above zero, if not even at a comfortable level.
The insulin pump is waterproof. The infusion set’s adapter, however, is not. If the insulin pump falls on the ground, it could also result in water getting inside, due to small cracks. That’s why it’s recommended that you don’t wear your insulin pump while swimming, diving, bathing or showering. As for the sensor and transmitter, you can stay in the water for as long as you wish because that won’t affect the glucose monitoring.
Each insulin pump and system for continuous glucose monitoring has its own specifics, so, despite the general considerations above, I recommend following the instructions that came with your device. If you’ve lost them, you can find instructions for Zaloker&Zaloker insulin pumps (MiniMed, Paradigm Veo, Archives) and Roche insulin pumps (Accu-Chek) in the links by using the contact number stated on the website (or try to find the company’s website in your own language).
Take all the security measures and ask for a manual inspection or a full-body pat-down. Don’t forget to take the spare equipment for glucose monitoring and insulin pump when you go travelling. And don’t forget to write your contact information on the devices you carry with you, in case you lose them.
Carry on and don’t let anything stop you on your future journeys!
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