Have you ever felt anxious about traveling because you have diabetes?

You may worry about getting through security with your supplies. Or having a diabetic emergency in a country where you don’t speak the language. Or running out of medication and being unable to refill it.

It’s normal to feel this way. But don’t let diabetes stop you from seeing the world! All you have to do is prepare: pack with care, plan for emergencies, and get travel insurance.

Why travelers with diabetes need travel insurance

The first and most important reason: Travel insurance can cover the cost of your care in a covered medical emergency. This is crucial for overseas travel, where hospitals typically won’t accept American health insurance and may require upfront cash payment. So make sure your plan includes emergency medical benefits to reimburse covered medical costs.

Emergency transportation benefits can pay for a medically necessary ambulance ride or medical evacuation to the nearest appropriate medical facility. Imagine you’re visiting a remote village on a tour of Vietnam when you have a diabetic emergency — and the nearest hospital is several hours away by car. Travel insurance can arrange a medical evacuation to get you care ASAP.

For travelers with diabetes, trip cancellation benefits and trip interruption benefits are also must-haves. These benefits can reimburse your lost, prepaid, non-refundable trip costs if you must cancel for a covered reason, such as a medical emergency.

Travel delay benefits reimburse the cost of essential purchases during a covered delay. So if your flight is delayed 6 hours due to weather, for example, travel insurance can reimburse you for a meal and snacks while you wait.

24-hour assistance is one of the most valuable benefits of all. Included in every Allianz Travel Insurance plan, assistance services can help with almost any travel crisis: medical emergencies, referrals to nearby medical providers, prescription replacement, interpretation services, and more.

The best travel insurance for travelers with diabetes

Many travelers wonder: Is travel insurance more expensive when you have diabetes? No. We’re happy to tell you that the cost of travel insurance isn’t affected by any medical conditions—although you do need to make sure your plan can cover losses caused by pre-existing medical conditions.

Is diabetes a pre-existing condition for travel insurance? Yes. Allianz Travel Insurance defines a pre-existing condition as an injury, illness or medical condition that caused someone to seek treatment, presented symptoms, or required medication anytime within 120 days prior to and including the plan’s purchase date.

For your travel insurance plan to cover diabetes or any other pre-existing condition, you must be a U.S. resident and meet these criteria:  

• You must insure your full nonrefundable trip costs within 14 days of paying your first trip deposit. If the cost of your trip changes after that, contact us within 14 days of that additional purchase and we can adjust your plan.
• You must be medically able to travel when you purchase your plan. We recommend seeing your doctor and getting a letter that says you’re good to go.

So, what’s the best travel insurance for travelers with diabetes, or another pre-existing condition? We recommend the OneTrip Prime plan, which includes up to $50,000 for covered emergency medical expenses. You also get up to $500,000 in emergency medical transportation benefits. The OneTrip Premier Plan has even higher limits: up to $1 million for emergency transportation and $75,000 for emergency medical.

A great choice for frequent travelers is AllTrips Prime, which protects all the trips you take in a 365-day span. AllTrips Prime includes up to $20,000 in emergency medical benefits and up to $100,000 in emergency medical transportation benefits.

Tips for safe travel with diabetes

Overpreparing is a good thing. You just never know what’s going to happen when you’re traveling, and diabetic travelers can’t risk getting stuck without the medication, snacks, and supplies they need. Pack extras of everything. Have a travel safety plan in place, including emergency contacts. Bring a doctor’s letter, translated into another language if necessary. And arrive early at the airport, because diabetic travelers sometimes experience delays at security.

Know the TSA policies for diabetes supplies. Diabetes supplies are allowed to go through security at U.S. airports, according to the American Diabetes Association.  These include:

• Insulin and insulin-loaded dispensers (such as pens or syringes)
• A cooler and ice packs
• Unlimited number of unused syringes (as long as you’re also carrying insulin or another injectable medication)
• Unlimited number of used syringes (as long as you’re carrying them in a safe sharps disposal container)
• Diabetes testing supplies (such as lancets, blood glucose meters, blood glucose meter test strips)
• Insulin pump and insulin pump supplies (must be accompanied by insulin). You do not need to remove any medical device attached to your body for screening.
• Glucagon emergency kit
• Liquids and gels, such as water or juice (can be over 3.4 oz.)
• Continuous blood glucose monitors
• All diabetes-related medication, equipment, and supplies

Communication is key. Did you know you can print a TSA Notification Card if you have a medical condition or disability that can affect security screening?  This isn’t required, but can help you quickly explain to a security officer why you’re carrying certain supplies.

Keep all diabetes medications and supplies in your carry-on. You don’t want to risk losing these essentials, should your checked bag get misplaced. Travel insurance baggage coverage does not include medicines, medical equipment, or medical supplies. Also, you should never place insulin in checked bags, because it can be affected by changes in temperature and pressure.¹

Get a travel loaner insulin pump. Some pump manufacturers let you borrow a backup insulin pump for a small fee. Having a loaner can give you peace of mind if you’re on a cruise or traveling overseas. Just make sure you apply for the loaner pump at least two weeks before you go.

Get a diabetes travel emergency card. This is a wallet-sized card with basic instructions — in English and the language of your destination — for what to do in case of a medical emergency. In a crisis, you can point to the appropriate message on the card, such as, “I have diabetes, I need sugar immediately” or “I need help, please call a doctor.”

Stick to a regular medication schedule. This gets tricky when you’re crossing time zones! Ask your healthcare provider for help planning your injection and meal schedule. UCLA Health has some detailed information for managing insulin timing while traveling. If you’re going east, for example, you may need less insulin because the day is shortened. Look at the user guide for your insulin pump and/or glucose meter to learn how to reset the time.² Also, be sure to check your blood sugar frequently.

Don’t push yourself too hard. Missing or delaying meals, or getting more exercise than you usually do, can cause your blood sugar to plunge.³ Diabetic travelers should build in regular breaks for rest, snacks, and hydration.

Be good to your feet. Wear comfortable shoes you’ve already broken in. Be vigilant in checking for blisters or rubbing, and immediately treat any break in the skin.

Download the  Allyz® TravelSmart app. This free travel app includes contact numbers for emergency services overseas, recommended medical providers worldwide, translations of medical terms, and rapid access to 24-hour assistance.

Is your next travel adventure on the horizon? Find out why 70 million+ travelers each year trust Allianz Travel Insurance to protect them wherever they go. Get a quote.

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