Diabetes Travel Insurance

To get a quote by telephone, please call us on 01273 773 017 or chris@jsinsurance.co.uk

JS Insurance provides Single Trip, Annual Multi Trip and Long Stay Travel Insurance to those who have Diabetes.

Travel Advice:

Consult your GP well in advance of travelling as you will need to be well prepared for your holiday. Obtain enough insulin, syringes, testing strips, batteries etc for your trip plus plenty of extra supplies to cover you in the event of delays. Remember that different countries use different Diabetes medicines so it is important not to run-out of your own supply.

Discuss with your doctor how you will have to change your insulin doses as you travel between time zones on a long-haul flight. It is also important to have all the recommended immunisations for your destination at least 4 weeks prior to travelling as they may produce unwelcome side effects.

Rather than relying on an airline diabetic meal which may be low in carbohydrate, take your own snacks such as cereal bars, biscuits, sandwiches and fruit. Store your insulin in a cool dark place such as a cool bag. It is important to keep your insulin cool but not to let it freeze so it is advisable keep it with you as hand luggage.

Travelling with a friend who can help and support you while you are away is a good idea. They should be aware of how they can help you if you become unwell and how to recognise a hypo. It is also a good idea to split your medical supplies between your hand-luggage in case of loss or theft.

If you become ill whilst away, never stop taking your insulin or tablets and monitor your glucose levels frequently. Do not delay seeking medical advice if it is required.

It is important to avoid dehydration and sunburn as this can be dangerous to people with Diabetes.

Look after yourself whilst away. Wounds take longer to heal if you are diabetic and you are more vulnerable to infection in hot and humid conditions. It is advisable not to walk around barefoot as diabetics may have reduced sensation in their feet.

Insulin may be absorbed quicker in warmer climates so regular glucose monitoring is important. Do not forget to take into account the amount of physical activity you are doing, whether it be more or less than what you would normally be doing at home.

It is essential to take out a comprehensive travel insurance policy. Inform the insurance company that you have Diabetes and ensure the policy includes cover for emergency transport home.

Using Insulin Abroad:

• It is important that, before you go on holiday, you find out the different type and strengths of insulin are available to you abroad. Check with the pharmaceutical company before you leave for your holiday.
• The strength of the insulin used in the UK may be different from that used in the country you are going on holiday to. In this case, the appropriate syringe for the strength you are using needs to be acquired.
• Keep your insulin in a cool area and away from direct sunlight.
• Insulin must not be kept in freezing conditions so when travelling on an airplane keep it in your hand luggage with you.
• When you are on holiday, make sure you monitor your glucose levels regularly as insulin might be absorbed faster in warm climates. By regularly monitoring glucose, you will be able to safely adjust your dosage accordingly.

Medical Equipment: What You Need To Take

• To make sure you have enough medication with you whilst you are away, it is advisable to take twice the amount of medication that you require.
• If you are travelling with someone, put half the medication into their hand luggage so, should one of your bags be lost, you have back up medication.
• Insulin should be stored in a cool bag.
• You will need equipment to monitor your blood glucose, as well as supplies of lancets, strips and a spare meter battery.
• Meters and test strips can be affected by conditions such as heat, humidity and high altitude so you should be aware of the possibility of false readings.
• If necessary, take Ketostix, Hypostop, Glucagen injection and Dextrose tablets.
• Always carry on you a diabetes identity card or jewellery.
• Carry carbohydrates with you in your hand luggage in case you face delays.
• Do not order the diabetes meal whilst flying, as they can be low in carbohydrates. Instead, order foods such as cereal bars, fruit and sandwiches.
• When carrying needles and syringes, it is important that you carry with you a letter your GP or Hospital Diabetes Team, with a contact telephone number and address stating that the needles are for medication purposes.
• Carry with you a first aid box.
• Make sure you have recent prescriptions for all your necessary medications.

Vaccinations:

• Always make sure you know which vaccinations are necessary for the area you want to go on holiday to. Some vaccinations can have a negative effect on patients, causing sickness or flu symptoms, so try to have the vaccinations four to six months before leaving for your holiday.

Coping with Holiday Illness:

• Make sure you never stop taking your insulin dosage, even if you get sickness or diarrhoea whilst away.
• If these symptoms persist then seek immediate medical advice.
• Regularly drink sugary drinks to keep up your carbohydrate dosage.
• Always monitor your glucose frequently.
• Check your urine for ketonuria.

Long Haul:

• Doctors or medical advisors will be able to inform you how to correct your dosage when travelling to areas with different time zones.
• Take with you details of flight and time zone changes to plan out when you should be taking your medication.
• When going on holiday to an area with high altitude, be aware that this can have an effect on your insulin that will result in air pockets in the pen or cartridge. Doing a few air shots may be necessary to rectify this problem and insure there arent any air bubbles when you inject. Otherwise, you could simply use a needle and syringe instead.

When getting a quote for travel insurance with diabetes, you will be asked a number of questions to ensure you get the right quote. These will be:

• How old is the person with this condition?
• Do you take insulin for your diabetes?
• How many hospital admissions have you had for diabetes in the last year?
• Have you ever been a smoker?
• Have you ever been advised to take medication for high blood pressure?
• Do you have (or have you had) any of the following medical conditions? Impairment of kidney function/ Angina and/or a heart attack/ Peripheral vascular disease (causes poor blood supply to legs)/ Leg or foot ulcers/ Retinal (eye) damage/ Nerve damage/ Amputation of foot or leg/ Liver damage

There are 2 main types of Diabetes:

• Type 1 Diabetes: The insulin producing cells in the body have been destroyed and the body is therefore unable to produce insulin, resulting in a build up of glucose in the blood. It is not currently known why these cells are destroyed but it could be due to the body having an abnormal reaction to the cells, possibly triggered by a virus or another infection. 5-15% of people with Diabetes have type 1 Diabetes and it is treated with daily insulin injections, a healthy diet and regular physical activity. It can develop at any age but it usually develops before the age of 40 and especially in childhood.
• Type 2 Diabetes: The body can still produce insulin, but it cannot produce enough insulin or the insulin produced does not work as it should (known as insulin resistance). Again this results in a build-up of insulin in the blood. 85-95% of people with Diabetes have type 2 Diabetes and it is treated with a healthy diet, regular physical activity and medication/insulin. It usually develops in people over 40 years of age but earlier in South Asian and African people (from around 25 years). This condition is also becoming more common in children.

The main symptoms of Diabetes are a need to pass urine more often than usual - especially at night, thirst, extreme tiredness, unexplained weight loss, genital itching/thrush, slow healing of cuts and wounds and blurred vision. Type 1 Diabetes symptoms usually develop quickly over a few weeks. Symptoms associated with type 2 Diabetes develop comparatively slowly over a period of years and may only be picked up during a routine check up. Early diagnosis reduces the risk of serious complications.

If you are travelling with others, we can include them on the policy, even if they do not have any pre existing medical conditions.

Useful Websites: About Diabetes - Guide to Diabetes - Information on Diabetes by NHS - Diabetes Indepth by BBC

To get a quote by telephone, please contact us on 01273 773 017 or chris@jsinsurance.co.uk

This Insurance is arranged by JS Insurance, underwritten by Towergate Underwriting and administered by UK Underwriting Ltd on behalf of Ageas Insurance Limited.