Flying with a medical device:
tips and testimonials
How can you manage air travel with a medical device? What can you do to make sure security is a breeze? Covering diabetes, prosthetics, colostomies and pacemakers, we collected testimonials and tips from four seasoned travellers.
Alexandre, Nolwenn, Gérard and Jean-Luc each live with unique conditions. However, one thing is common to all their experiences: the need to anticipate, adapt and communicate with their doctor, airport and airline in order to travel with ease.
Travelling with an insulin pump
Attached to the body by a catheter and connected to a wireless sensor, insulin pumps regulate the blood sugar of people with diabetes throughout the day. This relatively unobtrusive medical device may require inspection at security checkpoints and portals.
Alexandre, insulin pump wearer, always plans ahead
Alexandre, 30, is a sales manager and travels two or three times a year to Europe on long-haul flights: « when I travel, I plan ahead and I always pack 20% extra equipment, just in case ».
He also adapts this amount to suit the destination: in hot countries, where his catheter may come undone more often, he brings extra patches.