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Holiday Insurance
- Thread starter scotty
- Start date
- Status
Steff
Little Miss Chatterbox
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi Scotty cant help on the good deals bit but hope the tips can help you out..
1. Visit your doctor at least a month before you leave to make sure your diabetes is under control. If you need to do any stabilizing, a month will give you enough time. The same month should let your body settle down after any necessary immunization shots, so get those at the same time.
2. Get a letter from your doctor certifying that you are diabetic, and listing the various medications and supplies you must carry with you. Without this, you might have difficulties passing through Security at airports and international border crossings.
3. Also get a prescription for your insulin or other diabetes medication. Even though you should have enough syringes, strips and medication to last for the duration of your trip, it's always good to have a prescription in case you lose them, they become spoiled because of extreme weather conditions, or your trip lasts longer than you original planned.
4. Wear an ID bracelet announcing your have diabetes, and also carry a small card saying so in the local language of the places you will be visiting.
5. Learn to express specific diabetic requirements in the local languages. I've compiled a listing of likely phrases in eight languages. Click here to get it. Diabetes_phrases_translated.pdf
6. Pack at least twice as much medication and supplies as you think you'll need. Put half in your suitcase, and half in a special bag that never leaves your possession. The container for these supplies should be sturdy, preferably hard sided, for protection.
7. Carry a sealed pack containing hard candies or glucose tablets in case irregular eating makes your blood sugar drop too low. Your pack should also contain emergency snacks, such as crackers, cheese, fruit, juice --- in case you must wait too long between meals, which can happen when we are traveling.
8. Insulin can lose its strength in extreme temperatures, so carry your supply, as well as pills and other medication, in a thermally insulated bag.
9. Carry bandages and first-aid cream, comfortable walking shoes and protective beach shoes. Your feet need extra special care while you're traveling.
10. While on your trip, check your blood sugar more often than usual. Many factors, such as fluctuating temperatures and changing time zones, can cause wild swings in your blood sugar levels. If you check often, you'll be better able to take corrective action as needed.
1. Visit your doctor at least a month before you leave to make sure your diabetes is under control. If you need to do any stabilizing, a month will give you enough time. The same month should let your body settle down after any necessary immunization shots, so get those at the same time.
2. Get a letter from your doctor certifying that you are diabetic, and listing the various medications and supplies you must carry with you. Without this, you might have difficulties passing through Security at airports and international border crossings.
3. Also get a prescription for your insulin or other diabetes medication. Even though you should have enough syringes, strips and medication to last for the duration of your trip, it's always good to have a prescription in case you lose them, they become spoiled because of extreme weather conditions, or your trip lasts longer than you original planned.
4. Wear an ID bracelet announcing your have diabetes, and also carry a small card saying so in the local language of the places you will be visiting.
5. Learn to express specific diabetic requirements in the local languages. I've compiled a listing of likely phrases in eight languages. Click here to get it. Diabetes_phrases_translated.pdf
6. Pack at least twice as much medication and supplies as you think you'll need. Put half in your suitcase, and half in a special bag that never leaves your possession. The container for these supplies should be sturdy, preferably hard sided, for protection.
7. Carry a sealed pack containing hard candies or glucose tablets in case irregular eating makes your blood sugar drop too low. Your pack should also contain emergency snacks, such as crackers, cheese, fruit, juice --- in case you must wait too long between meals, which can happen when we are traveling.
8. Insulin can lose its strength in extreme temperatures, so carry your supply, as well as pills and other medication, in a thermally insulated bag.
9. Carry bandages and first-aid cream, comfortable walking shoes and protective beach shoes. Your feet need extra special care while you're traveling.
10. While on your trip, check your blood sugar more often than usual. Many factors, such as fluctuating temperatures and changing time zones, can cause wild swings in your blood sugar levels. If you check often, you'll be better able to take corrective action as needed.
Last edited:
Copepod
Much missed Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Scotty - most travel insurance companies don't charge extra for simple type 1 diabetes, unless you've been in hospital or have complications or other health problems. If they do charge extra, then find another company. Some policies don't cover lost medication, supplies etc, so you can decide whether or not it's worth bothering with that cover.
For Spain, as for all EU countries, you must get a EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) so that you can get the same medical cover as local residents. These cards are free, but some non NHS websites charge, so avoid these.
Getting a doctor's letter is a good idea, but many GPs charge for writing one, so ask your hospital clinic instead - mine provided one recently when I asked by email.
For Spain, as for all EU countries, you must get a EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) so that you can get the same medical cover as local residents. These cards are free, but some non NHS websites charge, so avoid these.
Getting a doctor's letter is a good idea, but many GPs charge for writing one, so ask your hospital clinic instead - mine provided one recently when I asked by email.
scotty
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Steff
Little Miss Chatterbox
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Anytime Scotty, hope it all helps.
sofaraway
Senior Member
I havr gone with mondial for the past couple of holidays, it's what the travel companies used and we got the insurance for free when we booked. So i just informed them and paid a premium of ?9, so i was happy with that. i have used the DUK and diabetes.co.uk ones before but they were more expensive, so just just because they say they are specilist for diabetes they might not be the cheapest.
scotty
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Eventually got my holiday insurance for a week in spain, waited for the best price and got it, it vairied from 25 - 50, am glad to say got it in the end for
?15.34 with swinton insurance which i thought was very good compared to the DUK insurance for ?35 for exactly the same cover.
It just shows it is worth shopping round, and saving a bit 🙂
?15.34 with swinton insurance which i thought was very good compared to the DUK insurance for ?35 for exactly the same cover.
It just shows it is worth shopping round, and saving a bit 🙂
MCH
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Good idea about taking a spare prescription as it should have all the correct spellings and strengths of your stuff.
Remember, however that insulin should NOT be put into your main luggage as it can freeze in the hold.
Hope you have a great time. 😎
Depends on exactly what you are looking for - I was shocked when I went to Mauritius last month - normal people ?22, me? ?38. But apparently it was the high BP which shoved it up more than the diabetes. I went with AA in the end - good policy for what I wanted the cheapest around. I'd start off with one of those comparison websites (moneysupermarket.com is good I think) - sort out what cover you want and then see how much extra it is with the Big D. I even phoned a broker during my hunt, and a couple of companies who claim to specialise in insurance for those with diabetes - but AA was still the cheapest.
MarcLister
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Hi Steff. Sounds like a useful PDF to have, if there was a link. 😛
Can I have a copy?
scotty
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
juist type it into your search engine, i now have it on my google homepage
Steff
Little Miss Chatterbox
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
cheers scotty saved me typing
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