Flying with CGM

[EACarlson]

Just got a CGM and looking for experiences of those that have them going through TSA. I have Pre so 90+% going through the old school metal detectors rather than the full body scanners. Does the sensor set off the metal detector?

 

[Lewisc]

Just got a CGM and looking for experiences of those that have them going through TSA. I have Pre so 90+% going through the old school metal detectors rather than the full body scanners. Does the sensor set off the metal detector?

Dexcom G6 doesn't set off metal detectors in airports. It's suggested you avoid the body scanners. Technically you should avoid Disney body scanners in the parks.

I called Evolv. They said it should be ok. I read them the wording on Dexcoms site. I was told to ask to be wanded.

Edited to add extra sensors shouldn't be.X Rayed. Don't check them. Ask to have them hand checked.

 

[EACarlson]

Dexcom G6 doesn't set off metal detectors in airports. It's suggested you avoid the body scanners. Technically you should avoid Disney body scanners in the parks.

I called Evolv. They said it should be ok. I read them the wording on Dexcoms site. I was told to ask to be wanded.

Edited to add extra sensors shouldn't be.X Rayed. Don't check them. Ask to have them hand checked.

I've got the Freestyle Libre 2 from Abbott, I have pre so don't go through the body scanners anyway. Abbott says that the WTMD won't bother the sensor, but nothing about whether or not the sensor will set off the WTMD.

 

[Lewisc]

I've got the Freestyle Libre 2 from Abbott, I have pre so don't go through the body scanners anyway. Abbott says that the WTMD won't bother the sensor, but nothing about whether or not the sensor will set off the WTMD.

Page 153 of the manual
Some airport full-body scanners include x-ray or
millimeter radio-wave, which you cannot expose
your Sensor to. The effect of these scanners
has not been evaluated and the exposure may
damage the Sensor or cause inaccurate results.
To avoid removing your Sensor, you may request
another type of screening. If you do choose to go
through a full-body scanner, you must remove
your Sensor.

 

[elvispursley]

You should be fine with metal detectors. Totally agree with the above about having your extra sensors avoid the X-ray scanner and hand-inspected. I use a dexcom and have never had mine go through the X-ray scanners (for the most part, TSA is cool about it, other times, I have to explain why). And I never do the body scanners at the airport or the Evolv scanners at the park either. I have enough issues with my blood sugar to have to worry about if my CGM is acting up because of a scanner affecting it.

 

[Selket]

I know a few people with type 1 (including a close family member) and often have traveled down to WDW for a convention for people with type 1 and their families. From my experience and talking to my many type 1 friends - several of them go through the body scanner or x-ray and send all their supplies and have not had a problem. My son with type 1 has had very nice TSA agents when avoiding the scanners. This is for Dexcom though - not sure about the Freestyle. If you go through scanners you'd need to tell them you have these items and they may end up using the wand anyway.

I've carried my son's Dexcom supplies through airports for years in my carry on and they've always gone through the x-ray bag scanner and I've never had a problem. YMMV.

 

[Lewisc]

I know a few people with type 1 (including a close family member) and often have traveled down to WDW for a convention for people with type 1 and their families. From my experience and talking to my many type 1 friends - several of them go through the body scanner or x-ray and send all their supplies and have not had a problem. My son with type 1 has had very nice TSA agents when avoiding the scanners. This is for Dexcom though - not sure about the Freestyle. If you go through scanners you'd need to tell them you have these items and they may end up using the wand anyway.

I've carried my son's Dexcom supplies through airports for years in my carry on and they've always gone through the x-ray bag scanner and I've never had a problem. YMMV.

Very bad advice. I spoke to Dexcom tech, years ago, when the person was really tech.
I asked the consequences of forgetting to remove the sensor from regular screening.

1. Not tested or FDA approved
2. The machines have different settings. Issues might only occur when the scanners are set high. Sometimes your bag sits still, under the scanner, while the X Ray is looked at
3. The effects are cumulative. Going through once might be OK.
4. The impact would be on accuracy. It's NOT that the sensor would literally stop working. That would be easier to deal with.

I have no issue if a person wants to take their chances. I have a problem with posters who suggest it's OK for others

 

[Selket]

Very bad advice. I spoke to Dexcom tech, years ago, when the person was really tech.
I asked the consequences of forgetting to remove the sensor from regular screening.

1. Not tested or FDA approved
2. The machines have different settings. Issues might only occur when the scanners are set high. Sometimes your bag sits still, under the scanner, while the X Ray is looked at
3. The effects are cumulative. Going through once might be OK.
4. The impact would be on accuracy. It's NOT that the sensor would literally stop working. That would be easier to deal with.

I have no issue if a person wants to take their chances. I have a problem with posters who suggest it's OK for others

As my post says "FROM MY EXPERIENCE" and "YMMV" and never do I say "My advice is..." or "it is OK for you to do it because I do it" - can you see the difference in a person relating their experience vs. giving advice for everyone as you do? Since it seems you don't have that experience of accidentally or on purpose having your supplies or kid (for the past 14 years wearing a cgms) go through the various detectors, you can't really speak to it. I have a problem with posters who aren't considerate of others' experiences, are condescending, and belittle their sharing of it because they disagree with it. Complain to @SueM in MN if you think my post is inappropriate.

My experience of actually doing it is as valid as you relating a conversation with a single Dexcom tech you had "years ago"even if the tech may have changed in the meantime.

Back on topic - Dexcom itself says this for their newer G7 for anyone who uses it:

https://www.dexcom.com/en-us/faqs/can-i-wear-dexcom-g7-through-security-or-while-flying

Can I wear Dexcom G7 through security or while flying?​

At security checkpoints​

You can wear your Dexcom G7 sensor when going through walk-through metal detectors and Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) body scanners. Alternatively, you may ask for hand-wanding or a full-body pat-down and visual inspection. Ask for visual inspection of any part of your Dexcom G7 in the baggage scanning machine.
Most security check points require you to temporarily give up your smart device* and receiver.
Dexcom G7 is safe to go through luggage scanning and will not affect product

 

[gap2368]

I have gone though the scanner at the theme park without issue also metal detectors but not body scanner

 

[razlime]

This may be totally unhelpful as at the end of the day the G6 documentation on all of this is basically "we haven't tested these scenarios", but I've had a Dexcom CGM for 10 years and here's what I've experienced:

• Airport x-ray bag scanners (the old version and the new version that looks like Eve from Wall-E) have never caused any issues with sensors nor transmitters. Just because it's not tested doesn't mean it's dangerous - but if you want to deal with pulling those out of your bag and explaining to the TSA, all the power to you. They're trained to understand!
• Backscatter and walk-through metal detectors have never caused an issue. TELL the TSA agent before you go through backscatter machines; they may either send you through the metal detector or they'll tell the agent on the other side of the detector to prepare for a residue test. They're very well trained for this.
• Despite Dexcom's literature, a handheld metal detector wand did once brick a transmitter. I was at a concert, the detector beeped when he wanded my site, so he wanded again, then about 2 minutes later my phone and insulin pump were blowing up with alerts. I called Dexcom and they said "yeah that can happen!" I now politely ask for them to avoid the site if I need to be wanded. I'll sometimes lift up my shirt or hold it over the outline to show them what it is and say "can you avoid running it over this medical device?" Security at some venues have given me a hard time about that, and sometimes it leads to a pat down, but I'd rather be patted down than lose a transmitter.

 

[Lewisc]

As my post says "FROM MY EXPERIENCE" and "YMMV" and never do I say "My advice is..." or "it is OK for you to do it because I do it" - can you see the difference in a person relating their experience vs. giving advice for everyone as you do? Since it seems you don't have that experience of accidentally or on purpose having your supplies or kid (for the past 14 years wearing a cgms) go through the various detectors, you can't really speak to it. I have a problem with posters who aren't considerate of others' experiences, are condescending, and belittle their sharing of it because they disagree with it. Complain to @SueM in MN if you think my post is inappropriate.

My experience of actually doing it is as valid as you relating a conversation with a single Dexcom tech you had "years ago"even if the tech may have changed in the meantime.

Back on topic - Dexcom itself says this for their newer G7 for anyone who uses it:

https://www.dexcom.com/en-us/faqs/can-i-wear-dexcom-g7-through-security-or-while-flying

Can I wear Dexcom G7 through security or while flying?​

At security checkpoints​

You can wear your Dexcom G7 sensor when going through walk-through metal detectors and Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) body scanners. Alternatively, you may ask for hand-wanding or a full-body pat-down and visual inspection. Ask for visual inspection of any part of your Dexcom G7 in the baggage scanning machine.
Most security check points require you to temporarily give up your smart device* and receiver.
Dexcom G7 is safe to go through luggage scanning and will not affect product

Looks like the G7 has been tested and can go through airport screening.

 

[ttintagel]

I never go through the body scanner with my pump or CGM. The slight convenience of not having to wait for the patdown just isn't worth the risk to me, even if it turns out to be small. My insurance doesn't cover enough extra equipment to be able to waste any if something goes wrong.

And absolutely none of my medical equipment goes into checked luggage, for much the same reason. (In addition to the risk of having it lost or delayed.)

 

[Lewisc]

I never go through the body scanner with my pump or CGM. The slight convenience of not having to wait for the patdown just isn't worth the risk to me, even if it turns out to be small. My insurance doesn't cover enough extra equipment to be able to waste any if something goes wrong.

And absolutely none of my medical equipment goes into checked luggage, for much the same reason. (In addition to the risk of having it lost or delayed.)

Pump and CGM companies will generally replace infusion sets and CGM sensors that don't last the standard time. Call tech support. Some insurance allows extras, medicare doesn't