Travelling With an Insulin Pump and CGM: A Complete Guide
Travelling with diabetes requires a bit more planning than a typical trip, and flying with an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor (CGM) comes with a few additional things to consider: what to expect at airport security, how to adjust for a new time zone, and how to keep your insulin at a safe temperature. Whether you use a pump and CGM or manage your glucose in another way, this guide covers the key steps from packing and airport security to in-flight care and what to do when you land, so you can travel with confidence and be better prepared for unexpected situations.
Key takeaways
- Pack 2–3 times the insulin you expect to use, and keep every supply in your hand luggage. Cargo holds can get too cold for safe insulin storage, and checked bags get delayed. → Packing
- Keep a paper copy of important information, including your device settings, sick-day plan and Medtrum customer support number, in case your phone runs out of battery, loses signal, or is otherwise unavailable. → Support prep
- The TouchCare Nano Pump and CGM can be worn through a walk-through metal detector, but not a full-body scanner. Do not pass the devices through a CT scanner used for carry-on baggage. Before screening, tell the security officer that you are wearing a pump and/or CGM and carrying medical supplies. → Security
- The TouchCare Nano Pump and CGM are certified for use in the passenger cabin, so your devices can remain in use for the whole flight. Monitor your glucose closely, particularly around take-off and landing. → In-flight
- When travelling across time zones, make sure your controller's date and time are updated promptly, so time-based insulin delivery settings remain accurate. → Time zones
- Many unopened insulin products are stored at 2–8°C (36–46°F). Once opened, it can stay at room temperature. But only for a set number of days that varies by product. → Storage
Prepare for Your Travel: Packing List for Insulin Pump and CGM Users
Good preparation starts with a well-thought-out packing list. The core principle is simple: bring enough supplies for your trip, plus backups for unexpected situations. Then you can have a reassuring and delightful trip.
Call Your Airline About Medical Baggage
Many airlines allow passengers to carry an additional medical bag free of charge, outside the standard carry-on allowance. It's worth calling your airline before you travel to let them know you're travelling with diabetes supplies and to confirm their specific policy on medical baggage. Additionally, to ensure a smooth passage through airport security, be sure to carry a letter from your doctor or documentation about your medical devices for security officers to review.
How to Carry Insulin and Pack Diabetes Supplies on a Plane
Checked baggage in the cargo hold can be exposed to temperature fluctuations that may fall outside the safe storage range for both insulin and other diabetes supplies (the Medtrum Nano Pump, for example, has a storage temperature range of -10°C to +55°C / 14°F to 131°F). On top of that, checked luggage can be delayed or lost. That's why it's essential to keep all your must‑have supplies, including insulin, spare reservoir patches, CGM sensors, and backup injection supplies, in your carry‑on bag, where you can control the environment and keep them with you at all times.
Bring Diabetes Letter for Travelling from Healthcare Provider
Ask your doctor for a travel letter that includes your basic personal information, medical conditions, including diabetes, current medications, allergies, and an explanation of why you use an insulin pump and carry diabetes and other medical supplies. There’s no standard template, so your doctor’s clinic can use its own format. Please carry a paper copy with you, and for international travel, prepare an English version.
Before You Travel: Know Where to Get Medical and Device Support
Before you travel, take some time to get to know quality healthcare professionals and the locations of medical facilities at your destination. If you’re travelling internationally, it’s helpful to know what insulin brands are commonly available locally in case you need an emergency supply. In places where you don’t speak the language, consider carrying a card written in the local language stating that you have diabetes and use an insulin pump and CGM.
Your phone might run out of battery, lose signal, or get lost. So keep a paper copy of key information with you, including your current device settings, such as basal rate patterns, glucose targets, as well as any emergency instructions from your doctor.
If you run into technical issues with your device while travelling, contact Medtrum support. Have the phone number and email address on paper in case you can’t get online.
Can You Take an Insulin Pump or CGM Through Airport Security?
Yes, though this depends on the type of device and the security screening method used. Airport security screens you and your hand luggage separately, and the guidance for the Medtrum TouchCare Nano pump and Nano CGM is different for each:
• Devices you're wearing: you can walk through a standard metal detector with them on, but they should not go through a full-body scanner, such as a backscatter or millimetre wave scanner. If you're directed to one, ask for a pat-down or other alternative screening instead.
• Devices in your hand luggage (such as spare pump patches and sensors): these should not go through any baggage scanner, including CT scanners. Before your bag is screened, take them out and ask for them to be checked by hand instead.
Other manufacturers test differently, so if you use a different pump or CGM, check its instructions for use before you fly.
Plan Ahead for Airport Security
Check the security websites for your departure and transit airports in advance for current screening requirements. Plan to arrive at the airport with enough extra time for any additional screening of your diabetes devices or supplies.
Insulin, Cool Packs and the 100 mL Liquids Limit
The 100 mL (3.4oz) limit on liquids in hand luggage applies at many airports around the world. Three things are worth knowing before you pack.
• Insulin itself rarely exceeds the limit. A standard vial holds 10 mL and a pen cartridge 3 mL, so the containers sit well within the limit even for a long trip. Most countries also exempt essential liquid medicines from the standard liquid restrictions, which is useful to know, but you're unlikely to need to invoke it for insulin.
• Requirements for documentation vary. Some airports or security authorities may ask for proof that liquid medication over 100 mL is prescribed to you, such as a copy of your prescription or a letter from your healthcare provider. Requirements for cooling accessories also vary. Gel packs are widely accepted in hand luggage. Check the rules for gel packs and other cooling items with your departure and transit airports in advance.
At the Security Checkpoint
Before screening begins, tell the security officer that you are wearing an insulin pump and/or CGM and carrying diabetes supplies. If requested, present supporting documentation, such as a letter from your healthcare provider or the corresponding prescriptions.
If your devices should not pass through a full-body scanner, request an alternative screening method, such as a pat-down or hand-held wand.
Using Your Pump and CGM During the Flight
Once you're through security, you can continue using your TouchCare Nano Pump and CGM during your flight. The Nano system has been tested to RTCA DO-160 Section 21, Category M—the standard covering radio frequency emissions for equipment carried in the passenger cabin. So it can safely stay on and run throughout your flight.
Does Aeroplane Mode Affect Your Pump, CGM and Bluetooth Settings?
Your controller works offline with Bluetooth. If you use the EasyPatch app as the controller for your system, Aeroplane Mode does not prevent the app from communicating with your pump, as the connection uses Bluetooth rather than the internet. In most cases, Bluetooth can remain on while Aeroplane Mode is enabled, depending on airline rules and crew instructions. If Bluetooth is turned off, you will not receive alarms on your smartphone or view CGM readings, although the Pump can still emit beeps when an alarm is triggered.
One thing to keep in mind: on some older phones, switching on Aeroplane Mode disables Bluetooth. However, on most modern devices (Android 11 and later, or iOS 11 and later), Bluetooth stays on by default, or you can simply turn it back on manually after enabling Aeroplane Mode. Once Bluetooth is back on, the connection to your patch pump and CGM will resume.
Keep Treatment for Low Glucose Within Reach
Meal service runs to the airline's schedule, not yours, and delays are common. Keep fast-acting glucose, such as glucose tablets, gel, juice, and snacks within easy reach during the flight. These belong in the seat pocket, not the overhead locker. Also, keep your glucagon emergency kit accessible in case of severe low blood glucose.
Monitoring Your Glucose in the Air
The Nano Pump is designed to work safely under normal cabin pressure during flights. However, changes in cabin pressure during take-off and landing may temporarily affect insulin delivery. Mid-to-long haul flights can also mean changes to your usual activity, meals, and routine, which may affect your glucose levels.
For these reasons, monitor your glucose closely throughout the entire flight, particularly around take-off and landing. If your symptoms don't match what your CGM is showing, confirm with a fingerstick before acting.
Flying Across Time Zones: Adjusting Your Pump Clock
Your insulin needs and insulin sensitivity can vary throughout the day, which is why pump settings such as basal rates, insulin-to-carbohydrate ratios, insulin sensitivity factors, and glucose targets can be set differently at different times of the day. When you cross time zones, update the controller clock promptly to keep those time-based settings aligned with your local schedule.
The method for updating your pump's time zone depends on which controller you're using. If you manage your pump and/or CGM through the EasyPatch app, enable automatic date and time in your smartphone settings. This allows your phone to update the time automatically when you arrive in a new time zone, so no manual time adjustment is needed. If you're a PDM user, you need to update the time/date manually. Please change to a new patch soon after arrival and update the date and time.
There is also one thing to keep in mind: If you have just replaced your reservoir patch before boarding the plane, you will be forced to waste a patch when adjusting to the new time zone upon landing. Try to ensure that the patch’s expiry date is as close as possible to your arrival time at your destination.
How to Keep Insulin Cold When Travelling
Insulin storage follows three basic rules: never freeze, avoid heat, and keep out of direct sunlight. Getting this right on the road takes some planning, because what your insulin needs depends on whether it's still sealed or already in use. Insulin vials that have been exposed to extreme temperatures should be replaced.
Insulin Storage Temperature: Unopened and After Opening
• Unopened insulin: Many Unopened insulin products belong in the fridge at 2–8°C (36–46°F), and should be used before the printed expiry date. Keep insulin away from the freezer compartment. Insulin that has been frozen is no longer safe to use and should be immediately replaced rather than used.
• Insulin in use: Insulin storage after opening works differently. Once in use, a vial, cartridge or pen can usually be kept at room temperature, which spares you from keeping it cold every time you leave the hotel. But the clock starts. Most rapid-acting insulins hold full potency for around 4 weeks at room temperature after opening, while some products may have different durations. So always check the package insert for your specific insulin and write down the date you opened it.
Direct sunlight and high temperatures can also cause insulin to lose effectiveness. Places like a car glovebox, a beach bag, or a sunny windowsill can quickly become too hot for safe insulin storage.
When travelling in warm weather or spending time outdoors, always keep your insulin securely stored in an insulated cooler bag or case, and see our summer tips for insulin pump and CGM users for more on managing heat and summer activities.
Cooling Options on the Road
Keep in mind that some hotel minibars may not maintain a consistent temperature, and areas close to the cooling element may become too cold for safe insulin storage. Check with the hotel staff about suitable options for storing insulin at the recommended temperature. When in doubt, use your own portable cooler and follow the storage instructions for your insulin.
Your Travel Companion, Built for the Unexpected
Travelling with diabetes doesn't have to mean extra hassle. The Medtrum TouchCare Nano pump is a tubeless insulin pump built for easier airport screening, and the TouchCare Nano CGM keeps your glucose data on your phone at all times. Together, the TouchCare Nano System automatically adjusts your insulin, so you can focus on the trip.
Explore the TouchCare Nano system →FAQ: Travelling With an Insulin Pump and CGM
What should I do if my device fails in another country?
Your first step is to contact Medtrum technical support for remote troubleshooting and assistance. If the device can't be fixed, the insulin pens and blood glucose meter you packed as backups are your fallback, and that's exactly why you should bring them and follow the backup plan agreed with your healthcare team.
Want to learn more about diabetes management and travel? Visit our FAQ page for more answers.
