Air travel and diabetes

Here's a letter I sent to the Transportation Security Administration (tsa-contactcenter@dhs.gov) today:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I write this note with hope that you can help clear my confusion about travelers with Type I diabetes.

I was screened today (Monday, June 22, 2009) by TSA Ford (and others) at Terminal 4, D Concourse at Phoenix Sky Harbor.

As a Type I diabetic, I wear an insulin pump, which generally does not alarm as I walk through security.

As per usual, I walked through security, and my insulin pump did not set off the alarm.

The agent saw the infusion set on my arm and asked me what was on my arm.

I explained to the agent that it was my infusion set for my insulin pump.

The agent asked to see my insulin pump, and I showed her.

She then advised me that I needed an "additional screening."

Screening agent Ford came to retrieve me and my belongings for my additional screening.

Confused, I asked the screening agent (Ford) why I was selected.

The screening agent (Ford) advised me that there is now a new law that requires all diabetics with insulin pumps to endure additional screening at all gates at all airports.

As I travel almost every week, I can see that this is going to present a problem for me.

Is this new law actually true, or was agent Ford mistaken? I cannot seem to find this new law online. In fact, the TSA website indicates that "TSA's checkpoint security screening procedures for persons with disabilities and medical conditions have not changed as a result of the current threat situation." This is from the following site: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... index.shtm

I appreciate any assistance you can provide, if only to direct me to the full text version of this new law!

Thanks,
Kara Stiles

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