travel

march 2002

Travel since September 11 has changed for people with diabetes, but we both have traveled far and wide since that terrible day (I was in the Mediterranean on September 11 and experienced the immediately increased security on the cruise ship, and in foreign and then domestic airports. Since returning to the States, Bonnie and I have both flown frequently with our diabetes medications, supplies, insulin, insulin pump, and etc. without incident. Here's what we've experienced and found out by interviewing carriers and diabetics who frequently travel. Before you leave, check with your insurance carrier about coverage worldwide and get the toll-free number or web address to find out what doctors are specifically covered in a given city. If you don't have coverage overseas, look for a special insurance policy for your vacation. Wear or carry official medical identification that states that you have diabetes. MedicAlert or Alert Medical I.D. are good sources for these. Before your trip, call your carrier and tell them you have diabetes and want to make sure you're aware of all of their regulations. Arrive at the airport with plenty of time for long lines through security. Carry your insulin and other prescription items in their original pharmacy packaging, including syringes or lancets. Since forgery is easy, an prescription form or letter from your doctor will no longer be honored. If you wear a pump, be prepared to answer questions and be ready to demonstrate how it works if asked. Always carry your medical supplies in your carry-on luggage (remember that most airlines now allow only one carry-on per ticketed passenger plus a purse or briefcase). Ask your specific carrier for their carry-on regulations. Carry plenty of nutritious snacks in your carry-on bag. These will come in handy for long terminal waits and flights. Be sure to find out in advance what meals or snacks they serve. A lot of airlines no longer serve food on flights, and a packed snack or sandwich can become a necessity to keep your blood sugar levels at a proper level. Ask your physician or diabetes educator exactly how to adjust your insulin or oral medications when crossing one or more time zones. Cancelled flights and long delays caused by having to go through additional security checks are becoming more common. By anticipating such delays and preparing for them adequately before you leave for the airport, you'll have a better travel experience. Last week I flew on a flight I've taken more than a dozen times before. Before September 11, I was rarely at this particular airport more than 45 minutes before departure time. Since I was flying with CAT scan films and X-rays that couldn't go through the regular security, I had been told by the reservation agent that they would have to be hand-wanded> I needed all of the now customary 2 hours before flight time to get through security and to my gate. When I got to my gate, I was informed that my plane, which was originating from that terminal, was parked at the adjacent gate. The plane that had been at my original gate had its crew being questioned by the FBI, and passengers offloaded for another security screening. The checked luggage was offloaded by a bomb squad and taken to a secure area for another X-ray by bomb experts and scrutiny by bomb sniffing dogs. The plane had been towed by the bomb squad to a far distance from the terminal for sweeping by the bomb squad and more bomb-sniffing dogs. No incoming or outgoing flights were allowed to that terminal or that runway where the plane sat until it was found there was no bomb. All this, because a prank bomb threat note was found in a lavatory by a crew member before the plane had left the gate. When the terminal reopened, my flight, which was scheduled to leave some five hours later than the targeted flight, took off on time, while the passengers of the other flight were just then being allowed back on their plane. I have no knowledge whether a passenger from that plane was detained for further questioning, but I would presume so. Yet, on other days hundreds of flights come and go from this terminal without delay. FTG