So happy I came across this video. It has taken a lot of anxiety off me with my upcoming trip. It’s also helped me realize there are a few items I still need to purchase to be better prepared flying. Thank you for this informative video.
I am so bummed I didn't see this video a week ago when I traveled. I had the most humiliating experience at TSA like I was a criminal or something. I wish there was a way to avoid the whole patting checking thing. I didn't understand what you said about getting something that is good for 5 years? This video had some very helpful tips!! So true that everything goes wrong when you travel... I blew through two bad dexcom sensors and had to use my last one. Learning how to extend a sensor beyond 10 days has helped me a lot. I didn't change the time on my pump because I thought it wouldn't be a big deal but I realize from your video it does matter. That explains my high numbers throughout the trip.
Hi Leah, Murphy's Law when traveling, for sure! And we were talking about TSA pre-check, which is good for 5 years. There is a fee for it and more info can be found here: www.tsa.gov/precheck
When I has in high school, about 22 years ago, I had the opportunity to play at Carnegie Hall. On the day of the performance, we were walking around a lot and I decided I could have a scone. Started to feel bad, checked the blood sugar and it was over 300. Gave a correction dose, but over corrected. During the performance, my blood sugar went low. I couldn't really enjoy the experience completely because I was so shaky.
Tandem says we can't use the body scanner at the airport but TSA says people with pumps go through the body scanner just fine. I went through the scanner once a long time ago with a different kind of pump. Do you recommend going through it or not? They made me wait 30 minutes for a pat down last time I traveled.
If you like the looks of the TSA agent and you want a pat down, go for it! Just kidding. I feel there's no need to take it off, though the metal in some of the pump holders may set off the metal detector. Companies needs to be super cautious in their recommendations, but when I was wearing that pump myself, I did not take it off and there were no issues. - Dr. E
I’m so glad the TSA agents where you are, are so knowledgeable! EVERY TIME I TRAVEL I have to do the pat down thing AND take out my tandem pump (I wear it in a shoulder harness on my body rather than on my clothing) then they have to do the standard “gun powder” test. The pump companies do NOT recommend any of the full body scanners and neither does Dexcom so you have to request a pat down every time. If you put your equipment in the bin to go through the regular X-ray scanner, that can be worse because even though damage is a random event, as you so ably pointed out, it WILL happen when you are traveling more often. My simple solution is: if I can’t drive there, I don’t go. Because by the time you get back to the bin of your pocket contents and belt etc, most of it someone else took with them. TSA precheck is a joke! I paid the price and NOT ONCE was I allowed to keep my shoes on, not once did it speed up the process at all. So I let it expire. Hope you have fun on your trips!
Any tips for bringing larger amounts of insulin to the USA? 😅 I’m going there for four months and I am terrified of something going wrong at the airport.
This would be better if you put a sample travel list in the comments. I appreciate your effort to be humorous and informative. And, you're correct, Murphy's Law is in full force when traveling. I have had a bad vial of test strips. I have had the door jamb rip off my CGM when traveling (which had never happened before). I have had a replacement CGM be DOA when I applied it.
Dude! Get s smart watch to talk to your phone which is talking to your CGM. it's the bomb and no-one knows you are looking at your BG. Thanks for the video...can't wait to travel again!
