Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Cody Turner on October 22, 2008 at 8:57am

I have never turned off the feature of the meter syncing to the pump which is also RF and have had no problems. I am getting ready to fly in Dec and I am not going to turn mine off. It is more of a precaution then it interfering with radio transmission. I have looked and the transmissions on the plane and the RF is not on the same frequency so there shouldn't be a problem with it.

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Permalink Reply by Dave on October 22, 2008 at 10:35am

If commercial jets are that sensitive to radio interference we have larger problems then a few of us who wear CGM!!!

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Permalink Reply by Maureen on October 22, 2008 at 10:43am

If you do turn your sensor off, it won't take 2 hours to restart, only 5-10 minutes.

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Permalink Reply by Kimberly on October 22, 2008 at 11:23am

This is exactly why I don't want to detach it. I need that sucker ready to accept a meter reading after I get off the plane.

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Permalink Reply by Maureen on October 22, 2008 at 7:54pm

Oh, I see. It takes me much longer than 5 or 10 minutes to deboard a plane and get to an airport exit. When I restart my sensor after the plane lands, it's ready to go when I'm on my way.

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Permalink Reply by Ron on October 22, 2008 at 11:12am

Good Luck !!!!!! I am taking my first flight since I was diagnosed in December and I feel that every time I look there is another thing to remember to bring or pack between twice the normal amount of the flex pens, needles, test strips, meter, batteries for the meter, letter from the endo, alcohol preps and the cases and ice packs for it all. Oh yeah I forgot I need to bring all the regular stuff I forget. I agree with David if the RF is that sensitive to interference then we do have bigger problems.

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Permalink Reply by Angela on January 7, 2009 at 5:41pm

May I ask why you would need a letter from your endo for a flight? I am flying next week to CA and this is my first time with the pump.

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Permalink Reply by Cody Turner on January 7, 2009 at 6:19pm

I take one just in case security gives me any problems with anything I have packed diabetic wise.

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Permalink Reply by Rickst29 on January 9, 2009 at 5:18pm

Relax, people, and leave it on through the flight! Your Minimed Rep is correct, if you want to "strictly follow the FAA rules". The CGMS Transmitters only TRANSMIT data when they've just RECEIVED orders to do so from the receiver/controller. (The pump, in your case). And so, disabling communicatiojns form the R/T unit makes everything go completely quiet.

This even includes the "Is the Transmitter in range" tests: your Transmitter isn't dishing out a continuous signal to the Controller to keep that icon shown, it only responds to queries FROM the controller. Without the request coming from the controller, there isn't any RF transmission at all, from either end-- the Transmitter merely listens for orders, sending out NOTHING.

But I think you're maybe letting her statement lead you towards a really bad choice here. all 3 models of CGMS transmitters and Receivers (R/T/Guardian with Minilink, Dexcom's pair of devices, and Abbott's pair of devices) are doing barely 1/1000 the transmit power of a typical cellphone or PC. (Think about it-- your PC's wireless adapter can easily do it's work at a distance of dozens of meters, maybe even HUNDREDS of meters, from the base station. While Minilink and Navigator and Dexcom often struggle at a range of just a few feet.)

just )hundredshundredsnac eof from dozens, smmIn contrast, the unusual running around, sitting nearly motionless for hours, and dragging luggage to/from the airport, and maybe having huge timezone shifts piled on-- these are among the times when you need your CGMS the very most.

This is not mere guessing, I've studied these numbers closely. I've posted somewhere (it was probably yahoocgms) all of the finicky little details about this. If you want to find it, Google with a search string including a bunch of words like like "CGMS" and "airplanes" and "microwatts" and "cellphones", and "FAA", and especially, "rickst29". I use the same nickname everywhere I go.

Minimed has to say, "Obey the FAA published requirements at all times". As with restarting a 3-day Sensor, instead of throwing it away, they legally can't EVER say otherwise, even though they do know all about this. YOU should leave it active during the flight.

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Permalink Reply by valerie on February 6, 2009 at 3:33pm

I travel for my work almost weekly by plane and wear the minimed CGM and never turn it off. I did have some strange sudden drops in glucose displayed on the CGM display. Within 10 minutes the levels would decrease from 150 to 50 on the display while the actual values were stable at 150. It happened to me twice while sitting close to the wings, I usually sit in the front of the airplane where is does not happen.
I think this may show that there is interference of equipment to the correct data display. Still trying to find out what happened, anyone has a clue?

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Permalink Reply by type1steve on February 7, 2009 at 2:35pm

I've also experienced CGM glucose drops while flying, and typically just ignored the little bugger until I was back on the ground. Or sometimes I'd just turn sensor off while on the airplane, and re-start it after getting back on the ground. One possible theory I have why this happens is that possibly instititual fluid in the sensor area dries up while flying, or perhaps lack of movement of instititual fluid near the sensor area has an affect (???).

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Permalink Reply by Stephen Britigan on February 12, 2009 at 5:29pm

I believe I can offer a couple credible insights on this topic of pumps, cgms and air travel. I am a pilot and flight instructor with type 1 diabetes and use the MiniMed Realtime system. As an experienced pilot and for many of the same reasons stated above I have zero concern that these devices will affect an aircraft large or small in any measureable way.

A side note about passing through security checks... TSA should never ask you to remove your pump or CGMS components. They may however wipe it for the "sniff test" and this usually occurs when the new guy has never seen one before. Here is the best piece of advice with pumps and efficiently getting through TSA check points - do not travel with other metal items on your person. Take off (or just don't put on) belts with metal, watches, hairclips, large jewelry or leave change in pockets BUT do leave on your PUMP and CGMS on and briskly walk right through the metal detector, as I never set off the metal detectors. Metal detectors are designed to alarm based on the amount and / or density of metal passing through the metal detector. Minimal metal = minimal hassel. I always get told "sir, your phone or pager" as I pass through and I simply say back to them "insulin pump" and I get waived by to pick up my bags and continue on my way. I have also traveled through security screening in Canada, UK, Spain, France, Germany, Amsterdam and Bahamas (air and on a cruise) with the pump and have had zero issues or slow downs. Happy travels!

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