Last November, I forgot to take my Swiss Army Champ Knife out of my purse before going to JFK Airport. So, for being stupid, it cost me a kick-ass pocket knife I'd had since 6th grade. Live and learn. But this is pretty interesting - turns out a fellow blogger over at Gadling had an airport security faux pas, as well. Dare I suggest another forgetful diabetic was the culprit permitting the breach of security?

Jamie Rhein's husband was chosen for a routine safety inspection before the family boarded the Skybus. His carry-on was inspected. The goods included: liquid hand-cleaner, a pair of scissors and a mini-wine tasting kit. The kit, unopened at the time - was opened and the corkscrew was confiscated by security. There was a knife attached. The pair of full-metal scissors was allowed. The liquid gel wasn't given back. Red alert danger - I know how tricky soap can be. Watch out!

The irony of Jamie's experience is that halfway through the flight she found an unused hypodermic needle and syringe still in the packaging and two empty medicine vials under her 5 year-old son's seat. One of the crew said there had been a diabetic on board the previous flight. Good cleanup crews are hard to find. That's fine, but with all that security, it was an awakening to be on the lookout for a used needle when searching for her son's spilled crayons. Guess there's no avoiding being on incessant heightened alert. Speaking of -- I asked JFK security to donate my Swiss Army knife, after they told me I had to surrender it. Yeah right. I'm sure the dude who patted me down took it home. Keep it sharp, buddy!

Here are some fun travel facts about diabetes: an average Boeing 737 carries nearly 10 passengers who have diabetes. For every five cars on the road, there is one person with diabetes present. Whether you're going on a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime excursion across Europe, if you have diabetes, careful preparation is an essential component of getting ready for your trip.

Accu-check has put together a free resource guide for people with diabetes to help them travel with ease and confidence. It offers some tips, lists and suggestions to help them prepare for the journey and enjoy the ride, worry-free. The diabetes travel kit includes: a brochure detailing tips like proper handling of test supplies and medications, traveling across time zones, and special circumstances like traveling with an insulin pump. The kit also includes a Doctor's Declaration/medical certificate form that lists the physician's contact information and approves the user to be carrying diabetes supplies (helpful when going through airport security, border crossings and customs). And probably among the most important and least considered - the kit provides a foreign language phrase book, which translates some key phrases for people with diabetes into French, German, Japanese, Russian and Spanish.

Whether your travels take you down the road, or across the globe - knowing that you've covered all bases before you depart will help you keep your mind on your business or your pleasure. Your diabetes is something you can pack for as easily as your weekly attire, thanks to Accu-check for the helping hand!!

So the new carry-on rules for air travel ban travelers from taking liquids of any kind on an aircraft in carry-on luggage. People traveling with essential medications are exempt from the new rules, however. This includes diabetics who are traveling with insulin. As Diabetes UK has warned, though, packing insulin supplies in checked baggage is another possibility, but one that comes with its own risks. It will probably make it easier for diabetic travelers to get through security. However, it's highly recommended you don't utilize this option. Insulin can be damaged by exposure to extreme temperatures, which may be the case if your suitcase is stored in the hold of an aircraft.

If you really have no choice but to pack insulin in checked baggage, Diabetes UK recommends placing it in an airtight container, and then packing that container in the middle of the suitcase. An alternative would be to wrap the insulin in bubble wrap, then in a towel, says the organization. Also, it would also be worth telling airline staff at check-in that your checked luggage contains insulin. It is a possibility that they could arrange for your suitcase to be stowed in a heated area of the plane's hold. I guess it never hurts to ask.