Ellen Campbell-Grizzle - PHARMACY TODAYJAMAICANS WHO have diabetes travel with their insulin and other personal care items. In the present tight security environment that prevails at many international airports, diabetic passengers may face problems with airport screeners. This situation can prove problematic for them and cause additional stress and discomfort. In Jamaica, pharmacists have always carefully labelled medication and supplies for patients who indicate that they will be travelling. However, according to guidelines issued by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the agency charged with the responsibility of safeguarding America's transportation systems, this is not enough.
The TSA has recently issued the following guidelines to which persons with diabetes must adhere:
Notify the security screener that you
have diabetes and are carrying your supplies
with you
Make sure your insulin vials, insulin pens, jet injectors and insulin pumps are accompanied by a professionally imprinted pharmaceutical label identifying the medication. Since the label is usually placed on the insulin box, patients should not throw away their insulin box
You must have insulin with you in order to carry syringes through the checkpoint
Lancets, blood glucose meters and
test strips can be carried through security
checkpoints
For passengers who test their blood glucose levels, but do not use insulin, boarding with lancets is acceptable as long as lancets are capped, and as long as the lancets are brought on board with a glucose meter with the manufacturer's name embossed on the meter
Notify screeners if you are wearing an insulin pump, and ask them to inspect it visually and not take it from your body
Advise screeners if you are experiencing low blood glucose level and in need of assistance .The above protocol applies to travel within the 50 United States and is subject to change. If a passenger with diabetes is denied boarding a flight or faced with any difficulty related to their diabetes, he or she should speak with the checkpoint supervisor. If the problem is not satisfactorily resolved,
passengers can contact the TSA hotline at
108666-289-9673
It is best to travel with sufficient quantities of diabetes and care products that work best for you. Some " fast insulins" cover food differently and your pump can stretch out insulin delivery. Watch out for the glycemic index of your food and walk with "fast carbs" such as glucose tablets, honey or candies with dextrose to treat low blood sugar in emergency situations. There is a wide range of insulin products available but it is not wise to change your medication without medical supervision. Remember cautions about excess heat or cold and storage of your insulin. Take charge of your diabetes.
If you want more explanation about travelling with your medication, ask your pharmacist, you have the right
to know.
Ellen Campbell Grizzle, President, Caribbean Association of Pharmacists (CAP), Director, Information
& Research, National Council on Drug
Abuse (NCDA)
email: yourhealth
@gleanerjm.com.
