Am I Allowed To Take Diabetes Medicine On Board My Flight?

In general, you should be allowed to take your diabetes medication along on your flight. However, due to restrictions placed on the amount of liquids that can be carried onto the plane in countries like the UK, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Africa, USA, India, Kenya & UAE, diabetics using insulin or other agents that require injections might encounter some limitations.

Diabetics Using Pill-Form Medications

There are limited restrictions on pill-form diabetes medications. These can be stored in your carry-on luggage and should always be transported in their original, pharmacy packaging labelled with the patient's name. Please ensure that the name on your medication corresponds with the name printed on your ticket to avoid any complications.

Also, keep your medication in a see-through bag for easy inspection at the airport.

Diabetics Using Insulin

The current restriction on all liquids that can be carried onto a plane is 100ml in both carry-on and checked in baggage. However, people using insulin and other injectable agents for their diabetes can bypass this by ensuring that they have a supporting letter from their physician. This letter will also work when taking along hypodermic needles and syringes.

For both kinds of medication, we suggest calling your flight company ahead of time to inform them of your condition so that they are fully prepared when you fly.

Please Note: We strongly advise speaking to your physician before you leave for your holiday. He or she may be able to help you with additional information, like the storage of your medication and how a different time zone may affect your medication routine.