Every now and then, new people with diabetes show up on social media with a very similar question: I’m traveling soon, do I need a certificate confirming that I have diabetes for the airport or for crossing the border?
You do not have to have a certificate, but…
Diabetes is a growing epidemic, and the chances of someone at the airport causing you major problems because of your insulin, pump, sensors, or similar supplies are practically nonexistent. It may happen that someone asks whether you have a certificate, but if you do not have one, nothing terrible will happen. You may lose a few extra minutes, but no one is going to deny you the right to board a plane because of something as common and essential as insulin pens.
Why is it important to have a diabetes certificate?
Anyone can be robbed while traveling or lose their diabetes supplies. What would you do then? Most likely, you would rush to a pharmacy and try to buy insulin. And that is where you could run into a major problem, because the pharmacist will very likely refuse to sell it to you without proof that you have diabetes.
We had a case where a pharmacist refused to sell glucagon to a girl who had overdosed on insulin and fallen into severe hypoglycemia, and then even emergency services refused to intervene. Such heartless people live everywhere, so a single piece of paper stating that you have diabetes and listing the supplies you use could literally save your life. Unfortunately, for some people, absurd rules matter more than human lives.
Does the certificate have to be in English?
If you are already asking for a certificate confirming your diabetes and the supplies you use, make sure it is in English — everything will be faster and easier.
Who issues a diabetes certificate?
There are some more advanced family medicine specialists who can issue one, but there are not many of them. Fortunately, every reasonably up-to-date diabetologist has a ready-made template in English and is used to issuing such certificates to their patients. There should be no problem. It should be printed on hospital letterhead, with the doctor’s stamp and signature. The more official and convincing it looks, the better.
Here is mine from more than 10 years ago, in case someone is not quite sure what it should contain and what it should look like:
Scan or photograph your diabetes certificate
Even if you do not have a scanner, you certainly have a mobile phone. Take a photo of the certificate just in case and send it to your mother or a friend via email or WhatsApp. It will also remain in your sent messages, and if you happen to lose access to your email, your mother could send it directly to a pharmacy or somewhere similar.
You can also read our article: A Child with Diabetes and a Journey to the Other Side of the World.
And finally, one nice thought:
