Travelling with diabetes: a guide to insurance and holidaying safely

For the 4.6 million people in the UK with diabetes, holidays can require a little extra planning. We outline what you need to know about travel insurance and other considerations so that you can relax and look forward to your next trip.

Do I have to declare diabetes on travel insurance?

Yes, insurers require you to disclose any pre-existing medical conditions. If you don't tell your insurer that you have diabetes and later have to make a claim for a medical emergency, they might not cover the costs.

However, declaring you have diabetes shouldn’t affect your ability to find travel insurance. While some standard travel insurance providers might not be suitable, there are a number of specialist providers who cater to pre-existing medical conditions and offer diabetic travel insurance.

Specialist travel insurance – such as Age Co Travel Insurance – often includes benefits such as:

• Medical treatment: provides cover if you need emergency medical treatment during your travels. When getting a quote for diabetic holiday insurance, it’s important to check the limit offered by different policies and that repatriation cover is included. This is the cost of getting you back to the UK.
• Curtailed or cancelled travel plans: when buying holiday insurance for diabetics, you might find it beneficial to opt for an option that includes cancellation cover. If your condition or unforeseen event causes you to miss or cancel your trip, you’ll be covered.
• Luggage: in the event of loss or damage to your luggage, you’ll be covered for any medication you need to replace, as well as any other personal possessions that may have been lost.

Buying travel insurance with medical conditions – and particularly travel insurance for Type 1 diabetes or have Type 2 diabetes – is one of the first steps in being able to travel with confidence. 

Cost of diabetic holiday insurance

Travel insurance costs are determined by a variety of factors, such as:

• Your destination
• The length of your trip
• Activities you have planned, such as water-sports
• How much cover you require and excess limits
• Plus, personal details, such as your medical history

You may find that a medical condition, such as diabetes, means your travel insurance is more expensive. This is due to the higher chance of falling ill while abroad. But, as illustrated above, this won’t be their only consideration.

If you want to try and reduce the cost of your travel insurance, you might consider adjusting your travel plans. Going to a country with affordable healthcare, such as those in Europe, or avoiding high-risk activities like scuba diving or skiing, can help keep costs down.

And, if you’re travelling regularly, you may find it’s better value to buy an annual policy rather than single trip cover.  

Common questions asked by insurers about diabetes

Insurers will want to know if you need travel insurance for Type 1 diabetes or if you require Type 2 diabetes travel insurance. They will likely ask if you take insulin for your condition and if you’ve had to make unexpected visits to hospital related to diabetes before. 

It’s also important to declare any other diabetes-related conditions such as:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Nerve damage
• Issues with your feet, vision or kidneys

Steps to consider when travelling with diabetes

People with diabetes may be used to planning ahead, but here are some other key points you might find useful to consider ahead of your trip:

Before you travel

In addition to packing extra medication, you might find it useful to research where you could access additional insulin if you run out. While it can often be purchased over the counter, in some countries it is more restricted.

If you contact the manufacturer of your insulin, they’ll be able to advise on availability in the places you’ll be visiting. Alternatively, you might also contact a diabetics association there.

For ease, it can be a good idea to translate key words into the local language and have a prescription note and doctor’s letter to hand.

What you need for your hand luggage

It’s best to keep your essentials in your hand luggage so that you can access them when you need to. Hand luggage is also less likely to get lost. You should have:

• All your diabetes medication
• Your diabetes card or wristband
• A letter from your doctor
• Your prescription sheet
• Other diabetes equipment like sensors and device spares

Many diabetics carry an emergency snack on hand in case of delays or cancellations. However, pay close attention to what foodstuffs are permitted on your departure and return flights.

Give yourself extra time and keep key medical contact details on hand

Going through airports can throw up extra challenges for people with diabetes, so make sure you give yourself enough time to deal with any issues that might arise from having your medication in your hand luggage.

A letter from your GP that details your condition and medication needs can be very helpful. It’s also worth taking details of your diabetes care team, just in case you need expert help.

Pay attention to time zones and temperatures

Insulin can be damaged in high heat. If you travel somewhere hot and your supply changes colour or becomes cloudy, you should dispose of it. It is recommended you store it in the fridge at your accommodation or keep it in a cool bag (but not in direct contact with ice).

If you are going somewhere extremely cold, insulin should be kept in a way that prevents it from freezing, such as close to your body when going outside.

And if you are changing time zones, glucose monitoring systems should be updated accordingly, and advice sought from healthcare teams about any necessary insulin dosage adjustments.

Keep your equipment safe in transit

The X-ray and scanning equipment used by airport security can damage the pumps and monitors used by people with diabetes. If you carry a medical awareness card, it will let you alert security staff to your condition and prevent your diabetes equipment being scanned and potentially damaged. It’s worth noting that anything in your hold luggage will be scanned and could be damaged too.

Summary

When travelling with diabetes, it’s worth keeping these key points in mind:

• To avoid the risk of invalidating your travel insurance, you should always declare whether you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, as well as any associated medical conditions.
• There are a number of travel insurance policies available that cover pre-existing medical conditions, such as Age Co Travel Insurance, that you may want to consider.
• Emergency medical expenses, repatriation, cancellation and luggage cover are all key benefits you should consider when looking for the right travel insurance.
• Before you travel, make sure you pack extra medication and keep this close to hand during your journey. Insulin is temperature sensitive, so investing in a cool bag can be a good idea.