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Travel insurance for Diabetics

It's not always easy to find affordable and reliable travel insurance for diabetics. Unfortunately, many insurance providers hitch up your premiums at the mention of your diabetic status. At Holiday Extras, we've worked hard to ensure our medical travel insurance policies provide great value cover.

Why choose Holiday Extras for your diabetes travel insurance?

  • - Over 40 years experience selling Travel Insurance.
  • - The Globe Travel Awards' best insurance provider 15 years running.
  • - Tailored policies to suit your personal requirements.
  • - UK-based contact centre and 24/7 helpline.

We offer both single trip and annual travel insurance policies for diabetics on holiday in the UK, Europe and worldwide, and additional cover options for winter sports. Not to mention, you can purchase a policy to cover everyone in your party.

Booking your policy

Booking online is quick and easy. Enter your holiday details into our quote form above to be taken through our discreet medical screening. The questions aren't invasive, just so we have general information regarding your condition so we can find you the most affordable and comprehensive diabetic travel insurance policy. If you'd prefer to speak to someone directly, we have informed staff on hand waiting for your call. Once you've booked we're still just a call away through our UK based helpline.

Compare cover levels for travel insurance for diabetics

Our diabetes travel insurance is at bronze, silver and gold levels. Holiday Extras insures the majority of pre-existing medical conditions, and all conditions will be considered.

Do I need to declare diabetes for travel insurance?

It's important to declare whether you have diabetes when booking your travel insurance, as this will certainly fall under a pre-existing medical condition. Failure to declare this will invalidate any claim you make, if it pertains to your medical condition. By declaring any pre-existing medical conditions you have (including diabetes), we can provide you with the best travel insurance for your individual needs.

How will diabetes affect my travel insurance policy?

Depending on the nature and severity of your diabetes, you will find that the condition is likely to have an impact on your travel insurance policy. Because of the risk of complications potentially resulting from your diabetes, you may find that a higher premium will be required than someone travelling without the condition. Even so, it is always the wisest course of action to be honest when taking out a travel insurance policy. Declaring any medical conditions you have, will allow the insurer to issue a policy that won't be rendered invalid.

Baggage cover

It may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but lost baggage cover is vital for travellers with diabetes. You'll need to carry a protective bag for your kit and medication everywhere you go, and we'll cover you for up to £2,000 if your bag gets lost or stolen.

Travel insurance for type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce any insulin, resulting in the need for people with type 1 diabetes to take regular insulin injections to stabilise their blood glusoce levels.

For security reasons, current regulation state that liquid items in your hand luggage must not exceed 100ml. This is subject to change however, if the liquids you are carrying are deemed 'essential medicines'. It is likely that insulin will fall under this, but it's always best to check before you depart on your trip.

Travel insurance for type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic medical condition in which the body's cells are incapable of responding effectively. Because the body isn't able to effectively absorb glucose into the cells, it begins to use alternative sources of energy such as organ and muscle tissue.

Symptoms can include: dark patches on the skin, cuts and sores that are slow to heal, yeast infection, foot pain and numbness in the extremities.

If left untreated, type 2 diabetes can cause abnormally high blood sugar levels which can lead to serious, life-threatening complications.

Travelling with diabetes

  • Medication strengths and needle sizes may vary abroad, so it's always best to take your medicine with you. The British Diabetic Association recommends you take twice the amount that you need, just to be safe. Medication should be carried in your hand luggage as it may freeze in the airplane's hold, and you may prefer to take needles instead of injection pens as the latter can malfunction more easily. Air pressure in a plane or at high altitude can cause air bubbles to form in certain medication, so try pushing the needle's pump to remove any air from the medication before you inject.
  • Ask your doctor to write you a note confirming that you have diabetes and how you treat it. This includes which brand, strength and how much you use, to help get you through any problems at airport security or if you lose your medicine or equipment. You should also speak to your doctor about travel vaccinations as these can cause side effects in diabetes sufferers.
  • Hot weather or high altitude can cause certain medicaiton to absorb more quickly, so you should test your blood more regularly than you would at home. Remember to take time zones into account when planning your doses.
  • Do you get numbness in your feet? If so, you may be more susceptible to complications from sunburn, frostbite, fungal infections or swelling, so keep your feet covered, but not too tightly, at a reasonable temperature and dry. You could also try using a moisturiser to avoid the skin cracking.
  • Do your research. For more information, both the NHS and CDC have comprehensive information on travelling with diabetes. If you would like any more information or assistance about travelling as a diabetic, including the types of medicine and equipment that can be carried in your hand luggage, then have a read of our travelling with diabetes page to find out more.

Looking for travel insurance with a medical condition?

If you suffer from any other conditions, then be sure to visit our medical conditions page to find out more.

Holiday Extras Travel Insurance is sold and administered by Holiday Extras Cover Limited, registered office address: Ashford Road, Newingreen, Hythe, Kent CT21 4JF.

Holiday Extras Cover Limited is an insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, registration number 828848. You can check this by visiting the Financial Services Register

Holiday Extras™ is a Trading Name of Holiday Extras Cover Limited. The insurance is underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited. Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited is a company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 13436330 and whose registered office address is 10 Fenchurch Avenue, London, United Kingdom, EC3M 5BN.

Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Firm Reference Number 955859. You can check this by visiting the Financial Services Register