Whereabouts in France? How do you find the French medical care especially around diabetes?
As others have asked please let us know about the French health system and about your experience of diabetes. There is also a current thread entitled 'Omnipod Issues' to which you may be able to give valuable input.
To answer both questions the French health system is generally very good. As well as diabetes I’ve had 2 different breast cancers in the last 10 years and also have to take thyroxin for a thyroid issue. This endocrinologist is also my diabetes specialist.
I’ve had an insulin pump for the last 6 years, being a long term diabetic my specialist says that it is often difficult to have equilibrium. However since being on a pump my HBA1C has dropped from around 9 to 7.
I have the HBA1C every 3-4 months, along with a whole round of tests. Since having cancer having a blood test is quite traumatic because they have several goes at trying to find a vein.
Sometimes it’s becoming difficult to get appointments with heart doctors, eye doctors and diabetes doctors. As part of my diabetic health care I see a heart specialist once a year, as long as there are no problems. I have a bicycle stress test every 2 years. My eyes get checked once a year (that is down to me as I don’t bother more often). The system is becoming more overloaded.
So yes, I would say the health care is very good, anything that is a condition for life, like cancer, diabetes etc. is covered by the NI system here. We also have a private “top up” health insurance which is quite expensive, but you can’t put a price on health can you.
I live in the South West of France where we have just experienced a heatwave that lasted around 7 weeks. Boy was it hot!
