Next Thursday, my husband and I leave for our vacation to Hawaii. I am extremely excited since I’ve been wanting to go for a long time. In fact when we got married, we decided on Greece for our honeymoon with the promise that we’d go to Hawaii the next year. Well, it’s been two years but now we are finally going.
I love going on vacation, but traveling with all my diabetes supplies can sometimes be an issue. I remember being told I needed a note from the doctor so that I wouldn’t get harassed by airport security. So I did just that and didn’t really have a problem. In fact the next few times I traveled, security didn’t even need me to hand them over my doctor’s note since they were very familiar with all the diabetes supplies.
So about two years ago, my husband, myself, my sister, and brother in law went to the Philippines to visit family members we hadn’t seen in a long time and to introduce our husbands to the rest of our family. I didn’t bring a note since the last few times I’ve flown, security didn’t need it. BIG MISTAKE! I didn’t have an issue on our flight to Hong Kong, once again, I got through airport security without a note and without a problem. However, once we got to Hong Kong for our connecting flight, security stopped us and had us go to a separate area so they could thoroughly check my medication. We were all so stressed because we had less than an hour to make our connecting flight all the way on the other side of the airport. I was near tears at this point. Luckily, my sister was able to speak to them in her limited mandarin that she was a medical professional and that the insulin was my medication. I know that this could have been avoided had I just gotten the note in the first place but you would think security in Hong Kong would be familiar with medication like this. I can’t have been the only PWD to ever travel there.
That was a big lesson, and I know now to always have a doctor’s note with me when I travel. It’s just another annoying thing we have to deal with but it’s a small price to pay to see the world.
I’d like to thank in advance the guest bloggers who will be filling in for me the next two weeks. Until then, have a great couple of weeks everyone!
Gen-I completely understand where you are coming from. Luckily, none of the countries I have ever visited have questioned me about supplies or even my pump. However, my main problem when traveling for long periods of time is getting a vacation over-ride for my insurance so that I can get enough supplies when I am away. BIG PAIN. Luckily, I have only had to do it once, when I was out of the country for 4 months in Australia, and I don't foresee that long of a trip anytime soon. Have an AMAZING vacation and drink some Kona coffee for me while you're there!
Wow Gen this scared me. You are the only person I have heard of that has had an issue. When I went to Italy and Bermuda I had no problems. Still after hearing your story I am going to get a note next time I travel by plane.
I hope you and John have a fabulous time! Take lots of pictures and tell us all about it when you get back!
Thanks for the story & the warning. Have a wonderful trip!
First off I am soooo jealous that you're going to Hawaii! I hope you have an awesome time! Second, on our trip home from Aruba back in June I was stopped and had to explain my insulin pump and got patted down & all but I tried not to get annoyed about it. I didn't have a note and haven't carried one with me for quite some time but maybe it's not a bad idea. We'll miss you!!