Diabetes is a very common medical condition in the UK. It is estimated that more than 5.6 million people in the UK are living with diabetes currently1. 6.4 million people are estimated to be at an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in the UK and 1.2 million people are currently living with type 2 diabetes but are yet to be diagnosed1.
Having a medical condition like diabetes can often lead to many questions around your travel insurance, such as do I need to declare my diabetes to my travel insurer? Can I get travel insurance with diabetes? Or what’s the best travel insurance for people with diabetes?
However, having diabetes or other medical conditions shouldn’t be a barrier to enjoying a well-deserved holiday. So, as long as your condition is well managed, under-control, and declared during the travel insurance quote process, there’s no reason why you can’t sit back and relax somewhere warm overseas (or whatever your idea of a holiday is!). To make sure that you can look forward to jetting off with suitable protection, why not take out a travel insurance quote with us to cover your diabetes or many other medical conditions? You can get a quote here.
Do I need to declare diabetes on my travel insurance?
Yes, you do. While it may not be common knowledge, it’s important that you declare all medical conditions when taking out travel insurance cover. Much like other medical conditions, you must declare your condition when purchasing a policy to make sure you have suitable travel insurance protection and cover in place, should the unexpected happen while you are away. If you don’t declare your full medical history and later need to submit a claim related to your condition, you may not be covered and left to pay any associated costs. You can declare your medical condition easily online by answering a few short questions about your general health when you get a quote, or by calling our friendly customer service team.
Will having diabetes affect my travel insurance?
Having a medical condition such as diabetes could have an impact on the price of your travel insurance, depending on how severe your condition is. This is because having a current or pre-existing medical condition could result in you being more likely to need medical care whilst away. However, at Get Going we aim to ensure your travel insurance quote is affordable even when travelling with medical conditions, where possible. Just make sure you declare all medical conditions and medication that you take.
Travel insurance for people with type 1 and/or type 2 diabetes
There are several different types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and other rarer types. Depending on which type of diabetes you have been diagnosed with, the impact of your condition may vary day-to-day. Depending on the severity of your condition/your symptoms, this could have an impact on your travel insurance. Regardless of whichever type of diabetes you’ve been diagnosed with, you will still need to let us (your travel insurance provider) know to ensure that we have the appropriate cover in place for you, if you do not declare any medical conditions, this may mean that you are no longer covered should you later need to submit a claim.
What do the different types of diabetes mean and how could this affect me when travelling?
The NHS define type 1 diabetes as “a lifelong condition where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin”2
The NHS define type 2 diabetes as “where the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body’s cells do not react to insulin properly” Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1. In the UK, over 90% of all adults with diabetes have type 2.2
Both types of diabetes are serious and can cause high blood glucose levels which can lead to serious complications with your health. Therefore, regardless of which type you have, taking the right steps to manage it is crucial, that’s why it’s important to plan ahead when booking a trip abroad, make sure you declare your condition fully and any other medical conditions you may have to help ensure you get suitable travel insurance protection.
When travelling abroad with diabetes, the changes to your usual routine, diet and climate differences could affect your blood glucose levels. If you have type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, travelling can result in further complications, therefore, it is paramount that you declare these conditions when purchasing your travel insurance. By declaring your condition(s), you can travel with peace of mind knowing that if the unexpected were to happen before or during your trip, you have suitable cover in place.
What are the benefits of a Get Going travel insurance policy with diabetes cover?
Living with a medical condition like diabetes can come with its struggles, including finding the right travel insurance for you at an affordable price, and with the suitable level of protection that you need.
Our policies are designed to offer suitable protection whilst giving you the assurance you need to set off on your adventures.
All standard travel insurance policies at Get Going include:
• 24/7 Emergency Medical Helpline
• 100’s of medical conditions considered, often for no extra cost
• Up to £10 million in medical cover available for declared and accepted conditions
• 100+ activities covered as standard
• Available for individual travellers, couples, families and groups
• All policies include a 14-day cooling off period – Giving you time to read your documents thoroughly and ensure the chosen policy is right for you.
• Take advantage of a 15% online discount, compared to our call centre prices.
• Travel insurance policies are also available for staycations, allowing you to take out cover for any Single Trip policy within the UK and any trip that is 3 days or more on an Annual Multi Trip policy.
Why choose Get Going travel insurance with Diabetes cover?
Having diabetes can make finding travel insurance a time-consuming task. Our policies aim to offer you protection for your holiday whilst leaving you confident that your condition(s) will be covered, so you can travel with diabetes and any other medical conditions you may have.
• Rated 4.7 out of 5 (Excellent) based on over 7000 customer reviews on Trustpilot. $
• 24/7 Emergency Medical Helpline
• 93% of our customers rated us 4 or 5 stars $
• UK, Europe and Worldwide policies available
• Discounts available when buying cover online
• Discounts on Couples & Family policies
Why Choose Get Going?
Over 1000 medical conditions considered
24/7 emergency medical assistance team
£10m cover for emergency medical expenses
93% of customers have rated us 4 or 5 stars $
Our top tips for travelling with diabetes:
Travelling with diabetes can sometimes require a little bit more planning than the usual traveller. Here are some traveling with diabetes tips for you to bear in mind when preparing for your next adventure, to help with managing your diabetes abroad:
– Note from the Doctor: Make sure that if you’re carrying insulin, syringes, tablets or any other medication on the flight, you have a letter from you doctor and your ID to hand, just in case. That way, if you are stopped at border control as a result of the equipment you are carrying, you have all the evidence you need.
– Diabetic equipment: In 2023 an average of 7 bags per 1000 were lost or delayed – so make sure all diabetic equipment is packed in your hand luggage to avoid the risk of being without your kit when you land.
– Be careful with insulin pumps and CGMs: If you treat your diabetes with either a pump or a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), contact the airline prior to your flight (about 2 weeks before). Do not put this equipment through whole-body scanners or X-ray machines as this can cause damage. Any luggage that you check-in may go through X-ray machines as well, so if you do have diabetes, download a Medical Advice Awareness Card. This card includes information for airport security about your condition to clear up any confusion as to why you are carrying certain equipment with you.
– Blood glucose conversion chart: The most common measurement in the UK is mmol/L (millimoles per litre). However, if you’re visiting the USA or continental Europe, you’ll find typically blood glucose is measured in mg/dL (milligrams per 100 millilitres). It can all get very confusing, so we recommend using a conversion chart such as this one from Diabetes.co.uk, should you need it.
– Bring snacks: Make sure you have snacks readily available throughout your trip. Whether it’s for transportation, excursions, or days by the beach, no matter what it is that you are doing, have snacks to hand just to be on the safe side!
For further information about going on holiday and travelling with diabetes, please see the following resources:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/travelling-with-diabetes/
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/life-with-diabetes/travel
SAVE 15%Ɨ BUYING ONLINE!
Frequently Asked Questions
Ɨ Please note, Get Going ‘s online prices automatically include a 15% discount against our Customer Service Centre prices. This is discounted from our core policy price before you add any additional cost of optional extensions or additional medical premium.
$ Get Going has been rated 4.7 out of 5 (Excellent) based on over 7000 customer reviews on Trustpilot. Based on Trustpilot data 2024.
§ Up to £10 million emergency medical expenses on all single trip and annual multi-trip policies and/ or repatriation cover, where medically necessary. Cover limits may vary depending on the level of cover, please refer to our policy wordings for more information
§ Up to £5,000 cancellation cover if cancelling your trip. Cover limits may vary depending on the level of cover, please refer to our policy wordings for more information.
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