Travelling with Type 1 Diabetes

OMNIPOD® 5 

• Do NOT place the Omnipod® 5 System (Pod and Controller) through baggage x-ray machines or through Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT full body) body scanners.
• Why? Omnipod® 5 communicates with a compatible Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) and neither the system nor the CGMs have been tested for safety in these scanners. 

What to do instead 

• Request for alternative screening - hand-held wand, walk-through metal detector, or a pat-down.
• Request a visual inspection of any carry-on bags containing your diabetes supplies.  

OMNIPOD DASH® 

• The Omnipod DASH® Pods and Personal Diabetes Manager (PDM) can safely pass through airport x-ray machines, AIT body scanners and metal detectors.
• Why is Omnipod DASH® different? Unlike Omnipod 5, Omnipod DASH® does not connect to a CGM, so it can pass through standard airport security scanners.
• While the DASH can go through scanners, users may still request a hand inspection if they prefer. 

Off for a short trip, or a long-haul adventure? Speak with your health care team about your specific requirements in relation to the location, duration and type of travel. 

Here are some general and Omnipod® travel tips to prepare. 

• Allow enough time to have conversations with your team and order your supplies.
• More is better – Pack enough Pods to cover the duration of your trip plus more.
• Speak to your health care team about a backup plan – Pack and back up supplies.
• Enough Insulin, Blood glucose Monitoring strips, Sensors and Hypo Treatments.
• Check the expiry dates of all supplies. 

Omnipod is safe to use at atmospheric pressures typically found in aeroplane cabins during a flight. 

• Carry on all your Omnipod® 5 supplies with you so you can have them hand checked.
• Omnipod DASH can be checked in, though make sure you have enough spares with you in case of any luggage issues. 

Switch your Omnipod® to flight mode. The Bluetooth® setting remains enabled in the Omnipod PDM/Controller’s so you can communicate with your Pod. Make sure you turn flight mode off when arriving at your destination. 

Your glucose sensor will still work if your phone is in aeroplane mode, and you can use it during the flight - just remember to keep your Bluetooth® on. 

Travelling through airport security with type 1 diabetes can be daunting but try to remember that airport staff see all sorts of medical equipment every day, so you don’t need to worry. 

These tips should help you feel more prepared and ensure that you pass through smoothly and quickly. You shouldn’t put your diabetes supplies in the hold, so you will need to carry everything with you through airport security. 

• Use a separate plastic bag for your liquid medical supplies like insulin; you do not have to put them in the clear bag you use for toiletries and other liquids.
• Check with the airline that you are flying with for their specific requirements. You may even be given additional baggage allowance for your medical supplies.
• You are allowed to carry all your diabetes supplies through airport security, including needles and syringes.
• Diabetes supplies and devices may need to be checked, but this is normal. Have your medical letter with you and allow for a little extra time. 
• Tell staff that you are wearing a medical device before the screening begins. You should not have to remove your devices. 

Before you take off or land, remember to update the clock on your PDM/Controller to match your destination’s time zone.   

For Omnipod® 5, the Smart Bolus Calculator relies on accurate, updated insulin delivery history and data logging from your Omnipod 5 System. If a time zone change is detected by the Controller, the system will notify you. 

If you do not update your time zone, your insulin therapy will be delivered based on your old time zone, which may cause disruptions in your insulin delivery schedule and inaccurate history log. 

You may need to adjust your Basal Programs on your PDM/Controller. (For Omnipod® 5, these are the programs you would typically follow in Manual Mode). For changes of just a few hours, basal rate adjustments are minor and easy to calculate. 

For long-distance travel, however, figuring out the correct Basal Program can be more challenging. Your healthcare provider can help with these adjustments. 

Pack enough Omnipod® supplies and Sensors you need as you may not be able to access them in other countries. 

For all other supplies, you may want to look up the nearest pharmacies and medical centres before you leave. Take your copy of your prescription with you to help explain what it is that you need, as the brand names may be different in different countries.