Even if the Dems win, they won't change things too quickly since they won't want to seem "soft". The threat level will fall probably sometime after the new year

Except for the cream cheese, this is what I normally pack to handle my blood sugar. Crackers for the carbs and tuna for the protein to help the carbs not be absorbed as quickly.

The OP needs to contact the American Diabetes Association about this stupidity. They have a very good track record of forcing the government to remove barriers (even stupid ones like the TSA) for people with diabetes.


- Alan

I have contacted the ADA several times about the TSA's screening procedures and they have expressed absolutely no interest in taking them on. Feel free to pile on -- perhaps I'm the only one to have asked for help so far.

But the GSC cant over rule TSA.

None of the listed items are recommended for a diabetic emergency. Glucose is allowed so is sugar, water and juice.

What you neglected to mention, Dr. eyecue, is that diabetics who have access to foods with known carbohydrate loads and glycemic indices have a much easier time of keeping themselves out of an emergency situation. Deprive them of this and they have a significantly higher likelihood of going too low or too high (and creating an emergency).

Quite frankly, for someone older, they probably shouldn't fly if they can't travel with the foods they're accustomed to. But then again, they shouldn't be deprived of them in the first place.

I have excellent control and I don't insist on bringing the foods I usually travel with (now banned), but it's to my own detriment. I have quite an enjoyable time matching up the airside food and insulin loads and wind up a higher blood glucose than I would prefer.

I feel so much safer now that former LEOs - now checkpoint screeners are deciding what potentially lifesaving foods/liquids may be carried on board with diabetes. I'll call my MD tomorrow to tell 'em they're fired.

Dr Eyecue - LOL!

I cant believe, no wait yes I can! You are saying that TSO's are making the rules. We are not. If you are talking about life saving materials, then you are talking about what I mentioned. Not the tuna and other stuff.

I think the point is, Dr. Eyecue, that these folks are trying to stay out of a diabetic emergency in the first place, which is better for long term health. Glucose may save your life in a diabetic emergency, but by letting things get that bad you can help accelerate the other problems that can come with diabetes.

So, in other words, yes the rules ARE endangering the health of some passengers AND going against the advice of a physician. If a TSO says "You don't need that" then they are advising the traveler on a medical matter. That's practicing medicine and illegal.

Recommended by who? The idea is avoid the emergency not land in one (prepared or not)

What a person with a medical condition requires to maintain optimum health is between him/herself and his/her physician. It is not the purview of the TSA to determine what the patient does or does not require. As stated by another poster, for the TSA to do so is, in effect, practicing medicine without a license.

I thought HIPAA and the like was supposed to protect medical information keeping it protected and only between the doctor/insurance/medical team who would know there is even a medical condition. Yet another level of "protection and privacy" being discarded by the administration via TSA without a thought.

We seriously need some lawsuits against the TSA and perhaps against Comrade Hawley personally.

The guy belongs in prison.

TSO's don't say that "you dont need that." It is more along the lines of "This is not allowed, this is a prohibited item on an aircraft, you cant take this with you." I agree that this whole thing is going too far but, we dont make the rules, we just enforce them. Perhaps a bit more planning on the part of a diabetic would be in order to alleivate the possibility of a diabetic crisis on a plane. As far as the tuna goes, a person can take the one that is in the pouch. You can take tuna that is not submerged in liquid. Heck you can take a 10 course meal with you if you eliminate a lot of the liquids. So you opt for the salad instead of the soup!

You're correct, however, most of the 18 million US diabetics have poor control and they're doing well to just hang on. In the support groups I attend, a substantial number eat the exact same thing every day, because it's the only way that they can keep control. Even something as innocuous as substituting oil packed for dry tuna gives the tuna a different glycemic load, which requires a different insulin regime. At least a third of US diabetics are incapable of making the adjustment (1/3 of US diabetics are admitted to hospital two or more times a year for a "diabetic emergency").

So, my advice to most diabetics is to avoid air travel until they can be certain that their dietary needs will be met without surprise.