ABOUT US
At the Diabetic Travelers Network DTN® we believe that diabetes should never stop you from seeing the world, feeling alive, and living a life of freedom. At the contrary it is a catalyst for growth.
We create boutique travel experiences designed by Type 1 diabetics for Type 1 diabetics, combining sensational destinations, thoughtful diabetes planning, and a community that truly understands the specific needs of people living with diabetes.
Unlike many group travel experiences, our trips are small and intimate, with diabetes friendly planning at the forefront. From carb counted meals to activities schedule every detail is carefully considered so you can enjoy bucket list experience and explore the world freely without constantly thinking about diabetes.
With DTN®, travel becomes proof that a full, adventurous life with diabetes is not only possible, it is the norm for you.
OUR MISSION:
Our mission is to empower people living with diabetes to reclaim control over their lives and travel the world with ease and live a life of freedom, unbound by diabetes.
Embark on a journey of a lifetime filled with bucket list experiences, sunsets and life-long friendships with people who understand what living with T1D really is.
OUR STORY:
It started in 2019, when DTN® founder Julie K., living with Type 1 Diabetes since 1997, returned from a solo journey to Colombia with a clear vision.
After traveling to more than 28 countries and living on three continents, Julie understood something most travel companies overlooked. People living with diabetes were not short on courage or curiosity. They were missing informed support and a community that truly understood what it takes to travel well with diabetes.
Her years of firsthand experience navigating airports, cultures, time zones, and blood sugar management revealed a deeper truth. When people with diabetes are supported properly, travel becomes not only possible, but deeply empowering.
The Diabetic Travelers Network was created from that understanding. A boutique travel company and global community designed to elevate the travel experience for people with diabetes, combining thoughtful planning, connection, and beautifully curated journeys.
WHAT SETS US APART
Unlike other group travel experiences, our trips are designed specifically for people living with Type 1 Diabetes. We focus on small, intimate groups and thoughtful diabetes aware planning so you can travel with confidence, comfort, and peace of mind.
While most tour operators prioritise speed and volume, we prioritise your experience. From centrally located luxury accommodations to carefully planned meals and schedules that support stable blood sugar management, every detail is intentionally considered.
You travel alongside people who truly understand this life. Our groups bring together T1Ds at all stages of their journey, creating space for real connection, shared learning, and lasting friendships.
With DTN®, travel feels elevated, supportive, and effortless. This is not about fitting into a standard itinerary. It is about experiencing the world fully, safely, and on your own terms.
WHAT TO EXPECT
A curated, done for you travel experience designed specifically for people living with Type 1 Diabetes.
A small, considered group of diabetic travelers who understand the realities of diabetes pausing for care or managing in public is simply part of the journey and never a disruption.
A group of fearless diabasass who support one another and build life-long friendships that last long after the trip ends.
Exceptional destinations, beautifully located high end accommodations, and seamless logistics that remove friction and create space to be fully present.
The confidence that comes from traveling in an environment where nothing needs to be explained and every detail has been anticipated.
Hey, I’m Julie K.
Founder of Diabetic Travelers Network, and I've been living with Type 1 Diabetes for almost 30 years. I know firsthand the unique challenges and triumphs that come with managing T1D while pursuing a healthy life of adventure.
My goal is to make travel an empowering, stress-free experience for people living with diabetes, because I believe that T1D should never be a barrier to seeing the world.
Through years of exploring destinations myself and living abroad, I’ve discovered that the right travel experience are the most transformative of all. Travel changed my life.
That’s why I personally curate every trip with a focus on luxury, comfort, and authenticity. From carefully choosing accommodations that make you feel at home and destinations that will blow your mind to collaborating with chefs who create delicious, diabetes-friendly meals, I ensure that each journey meets the highest standards of quality and care.
Why? Because T1D deserves the best.
When you travel with us, you’re not just another traveler you’re part of a community that understands you, celebrates your strengths, and supports your unique needs. I can’t wait to welcome you on one of our upcoming adventures, where luxury meets authenticity and every moment is another opportunity to create lifelong memories.
There is nothing that warms more my heart than seeing returning clients grow their confidence, travel together and completely change their lives.
When I started thinking about traveling some people close to me started to worry.
And they passed that fear onto me. It wasn't mine to begin with.
I started to freak out and play all the worst-case scenarios in my head.
What if my insulin doesn't work and I have to pay for it?
How am I going to get enough supplies to cover this 6 months trip?
What if I have a severe low and no one understands that I have diabetes? What if I die from this? Could I?
Those were LONG sleepless nights believe me!
I know for a fact that diabetes can be very lonely, especially when no one around you has it.
I know the stress that kicks in every time you try something new.
I had a dream of traveling the world, but I had no idea how to make it a reality.
Like you, I had nobody to talk to.
I felt alone, stressed, and misunderstood.
I refused to let diabetes control my life or dictate what I could or not do.
So I wrote down all that could happen and I made a plan for each scenario. Making sure I had a backup plan if things were to go wrong.
And they did.
When I was about to embark the security took my ice packs. I had to make a choice risking my insulin to go off and taking a leap of faith to live my dream or go home and be miserable.
I choose number 1. I took that plane.
Fast forward I've traveled to more than 28 countries, lived on 3 continents, learned 2 foreign languages, and became an expat in a foreign country. Travel opened my eyes to the world. To humanity and its kindness. It taught me that you can make real friends in 5 years or in 5 mins. That you're never alone unless you decide or want to be.
I became so confident in my ability not only to manage my diabetes but to keep myself safe and to manage unexpected situations with a smile. It taught me to not believe what people say but to go and see it by myself. I felt safe and at home in Colombia while it was supposed to be unsafe and scary. I did a road trip around Scotland for a week and it barely rained.
Without travelling I would have never done half of the things I have now done. When I started I was exactly like you. I was scared unsure and I didn't want to go alone.
But I knew deep down that there was another way than going to work and watching others traveling the world. If they did it, I could too.
That's why I founded the Diabetic Travelers Network and started a company that facilitates group trips for individuals who live with diabetes (all types are welcome) so they can stop the fear and overwhelmed and finally feel alive.
I am here to show you that diabetes can be a tiny detail in your life. That you don’t have to live your life as a victim of your diagnosis. Life is unpredictable even without diabetes, and I’m here to show you how to build confidence & the know-how to take your power back.