DIABETES TRAVEL LETTER TEMPLATE
Download here your free diabetes travel letter template
You’ve probably heard many times before that, before flying with diabetes, you need to do some homework. Well, good news: we’ve done them for you!
This article provides you with all the information you need to get through airport security checks with all of your diabetes supplies. And a special diabetes travel letter template is downloadable for free. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetic travelers should carry such a letter when traveling with diabetes. We’ll go through the following points (click and jump to any part):
Download your free diabetes travel letter template
Diabetes supplies and airport security
What if you don’t have a diabetes travel letter template?
Useful contacts before flying with diabetes
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DIABETES TRAVEL LETTER TEMPLATE:
Free download
You need a have a medical travel letter in order to get through airport security checks with all of your diabetes supplies.
For it to be valid, there are a number of specific information that your diabetes travel letter must contain. Naturally, some doctors aren’t aware of the exact information that should be included in such a letter.
To make things easier for you, and for your doctor, we’ve prepared a ready-to-print Diabetes Travel Letter Template.
All you need to do is download your template for FREE and ask your doctor to fill it in! It also comes with a notice sheet for your doctor to understand what that document exactly is, and what she/he needs to write!
DIABETES SUPPLIES, AIRPORT, TSA…
Why do you need a diabetes travel letter?
Note: In this article we mostly refer to the TSA, the USA Transportation Security Administration. It is the airport security management for all American airports. However, regarding diabetic supplies, most of the airports in the world will apply the exact same rules as the TSA, and as the ones mention here.
You should not have any problems passing through airport security with your diabetic supplies. Nowadays, more and more people are traveling with diabetes, and airport security staff is getting more familiar with diabetes supplies such as insulin pumps, blood glucose meters, continuous glucose monitoring sensors, glucagon kits, and other diabetic pharmaceuticals.
According to the TSA requirements:
“Diabetes related supplies, equipment, and medication, including liquids, are allowed through the checkpoint once they have been screened. Passengers should declare these items and separate them from other belongings before screening begins.”
Insulin pens, vials, cartridges, insulin pumps, blood glucose meters, continuous glucose monitoring sensors, needles, syringes, diabetes tablets, lancets, and any other diabetic supplies, are all ALLOWED to pass through TSA. And more generally, this applies to any airport security in the world.
But to be completely safe, you do need to have a diabetes travel letter from your doctor specifying that you are a diabetic patient. And as such, they should let you go through TSA with your all diabetic supplies.
HAVE IT TRANSLATED IF TRAVELING ABROAD WITH DIABETES SUPPLIES
If you’re traveling abroad to a country that has few English speakers, it’s even better (but not compulsory) to have that your diabetes travel letter translated into your destination country’s language.
You might be asked to show it on arrival to local customs if they ask you about the medical supplies you’re bringing into their country. And you might be asked to show it at departure to the local airport security when you’ll catch your return flight.
WHAT IF YOU DON’T HAVE A DIABETES TRAVEL LETTER?
Most of the time though, you won’t even be asked to present you diabetes travel letter. Believe me, I’ve been through a looooot of airport security checks with many different diabetic supplies (insulin pens, freestyle libre glucose sensors, glucose meters, needles, etc.). And, I have never been asked to show my letter.
But, I always, always, carry it on me just in case. It doesn’t cost you anything and it is legally all you need to get through if anybody asks.
In case you don’t have a diabetes travel letter and you’re having troubles with the airport security staff, don’t hesitate to ask for the chief of staff. He or she might more easily be able to let you go through.
USEFUL CONTACTS BEFORE FLYING WITH DIABETES
Before flying with diabetes, should you have any more doubts about what you can take through airport security, do not hesitate to contact your departure airport’s referent authority. Here are a few useful phone numbers to save you some time:
USA – TSA Cares Helpline: (855) 787-2227
UK – London Heathrow Airport Security: 0844 335 1801
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