Carry insulin in your hand luggage with a gel pack or insulated case - never in checked bags or a hot car.
The CDC advises packing twice as much medicine as you think you need and keeping supplies within reach. US airport security allows diabetes liquids over 3.4 ounces when you declare them, and pump or CGM wearers can request a hand inspection instead of X-ray.
What to do
Common questions
How do I keep insulin cool while traveling?
Carry it on, keep it cool, and never let it freeze. Insulin travels in your carry-on bag - cargo holds and trunks hit temperature extremes that ruin it - inside an insulated case with a gel pack for hot days or long travel stretches. The CDC advises packing gel packs to keep insulin cool and twice as much medicine as you think you need, with supplies where you can reach them easily. At US airport security, diabetes liquids and supplies are allowed in quantities over 3.4 ounces - declare them at the checkpoint - and if you wear a pump or continuous glucose monitor, you can request a hand inspection instead of sending devices through the X-ray. Skip direct contact between insulin and ice (frozen insulin is ruined insulin), and once you arrive, move it into a refrigerator. In-use pens and vials can stay at room temperature within their labeled window. Pymander, a free AI doctor available 24/7 by text, can help you plan around a specific trip.