Diabetes & Spain

[cyrryan]

I am seeking advice about living with diabetes in Spain. If someone has been to Spain on holidays or as resident, I would be grateful to hear from you all. I am interested to know how you cope with the transition from one country to other? What is the healthcare like in Spain? I am also interested to know about medicines and branding etc... Diabetic meds may have different names etc. How does one get around this?
I look forward to hearing back from anyone who has experiences of travel to Spain and how they overcame problems or issues along the way. Any information will be most welcome!

Many thanks

 

[catherinecherub]

I will tag @connie104 who lived in Spain. She is a Type2 but will have information about how the healthcare system works.

 

[cyrryan]

I will tag @connie104 who lived in Spain. She is a Type2 but will have information about how the healthcare system works.

Many thanks catherine, much appreciated!!

 

[connie104]

I lived in Spain for 15 years in Marbella , Costa del Sol and was diagnosed type 2 whilst there .
If you are of working age you have to pay your social security every month and this covers all your health care . Perscriptions are not free even for pensioners diabetes medication you pay 10 percent of the cost and other medication you pay 40% so can work out expensive. Pensioners pay 10%
Are you intending to work ? If so your employer has to give you a work contract and health care is covered
My husband had his own business so we had to pay the social security ourselves which for a married couple was just under 300 euros a month . The health care is very good no long waits for appointments etc. which I have found hard to get used to on our return to the UK. We have considered going back but with the uncertainty of Brexit we have decided to wait and see . Good luck !

 

[connie104]

I forgot to mention all the medication I was prescribed in Spain is available in the UK and vice versus I'm sure just use the generic name

 

[PoppyPetal]

I live and work in the south of Spain so I have access to free healthcare but the waits for appointments especially for specialists are definitely longer than they used to be. Like the Uk they are just so short of finances so I also have private insurance at the moment. Having said that the prices for this keep rising and I am really going to have to consider whether to keep this going. The medications will just be the generic names and I can't see you having any problems with obtaining these. I would just recommend if you are moving here that you register with a doctor as soon as you arrive at your local medical centre. Some doctors speak English in the Ss system but not all, but the private doctors always speak English. I can usually manage badly in Spanish when I have to! I have T2 and my daughter in law has been a T1 since she was tiny. As Connie104 said you do pay a percentage of prescription costs or if you go private you pay the whole cost (having said that you just take a private prescription to your local doc and he will write you one which entitles you to the discounts Providing it is not a new expensive medications). Wishing you all the best if you decide on the move....

 

[cyrryan]

Many thanks for replies. I am a T1. I am deeply grateful for your advice and information. I am currently researching all aspects of going to Spain. I have not made the decision to go but would like the info first hence my correspondence here. I pay prescription charges already so this is not new for me. I have the European Health card and am wondering would this cover cost of medicines in Spain or is it based on regional/local finances? There was a mention of Generic names. Can you explain what this means? I have heard of this but I don't know much about it. I know of Novorapid and Levimir. What would the generics of these insulin's be or where can I get further information?
many thanks

 

[sandra curtis]

I travel to Spain lots in the years we've had a house there.The healthcare system is very good.All diabetics on Insulin are seen by a consultant.I am not so sure that retinopathy screening is done annually there.The insulins are the same as here .The transition from one country to another is no problem.Only thing to watch is that usually you will need less insulin in the very hot summers.The diabetic meds have similar names.Soluble asprin is not available in Spain but you can take lots of baby doses with you.Its best to get a letter from your GP or Diabetic nurse if you have a pump as the airport security may query it.You enjoy yourself but do take a reliable medical translator for any appointments .Not any translator get someone who understands and can translate properly.A friend of mine was so ill after taking her medications wrongly. If you are going near to Torrieveja there is a good English diabetic support group there and the leader a Spaniard is good at translating medical jargon and his charges are nominal.Good luck enjoy Spain

 

[connie104]

Diabetic eye screening is done annually in Spain

 

[cyrryan]

Thanks so much I appreciate...

 

[fairy108_]

That’s good news for me thank you all !if you’re in receipt of British pension do you pay 10%or is it free if you are a pensioner? .

 

[Jane Taylor]

I lived in Spain for 15 years in Marbella , Costa del Sol and was diagnosed type 2 whilst there .
If you are of working age you have to pay your social security every month and this covers all your health care . Perscriptions are not free even for pensioners diabetes medication you pay 10 percent of the cost and other medication you pay 40% so can work out expensive. Pensioners pay 10%
Are you intending to work ? If so your employer has to give you a work contract and health care is covered
My husband had his own business so we had to pay the social security ourselves which for a married couple was just under 300 euros a month . The health care is very good no long waits for appointments etc. which I have found hard to get used to on our return to the UK. We have considered going back but with the uncertainty of Brexit we have decided to wait and see . Good luck !

Hi Connie

I wonder if you could help please. My father in law was diagnosed with diabetes type 2 in France a number of years ago. They have recently moved to Spain, last October.

Anyway I have come out to visit and we have been speaking about managing his diabetes. His has informed me that he has never had a foot check nor has he had any eye screening. He is metformin (dapagliflozina/hidrocloruro de metformina) which he is taking am/pm.

Can anyone please inform me who he would need to make contact with so he can get the screening he needs and also diabetic dietary advise.

Thanks

Jane

Edited by moderator to remove personal contact details. Please use the PM facility here instead to contact Jane if you can help her

 

[connie104]

Hi Connie

I wonder if you could help please. My father in law was diagnosed with diabetes type 2 in France a number of years ago. They have recently moved to Spain, last October.

Anyway I have come out to visit and we have been speaking about managing his diabetes. His has informed me that he has never had a foot check nor has he had any eye screening. He is metformin (dapagliflozina/hidrocloruro de metformina) which he is taking am/pm.

Can anyone please inform me who he would need to make contact with so he can get the screening he needs and also diabetic dietary advise.

Thanks

Jane

Edited by moderator to remove personal contact details. Please use the PM facility here instead to contact Jane if you can help her

Hi Jane sorry to be so late in getting back to you regarding your questions but I’ve been on holiday and must have missed your post whilst in Spain.
The system in Spain was very much like UK the doctor did blood Test every 6 months and you then saw diabetic nurse for weight and feet etc. I also received a letter every year for my retinal screening which was done at local hospital.
I presume your father is registered with a Spanish doctor in their health system if so they can arrange a this for him. Hope this info helps

 

[MikeStrutter]

I travel to Spain lots in the years we've had a house there.The healthcare system is very good.All diabetics on Insulin are seen by a consultant.I am not so sure that retinopathy screening is done annually there.The insulins are the same as here .The transition from one country to another is no problem.Only thing to watch is that usually you will need less insulin in the very hot summers.The diabetic meds have similar names.Soluble asprin is not available in Spain but you can take lots of baby doses with you.Its best to get a letter from your GP or Diabetic nurse if you have a pump as the airport security may query it.You enjoy yourself but do take a reliable medical translator for any appointments .Not any translator get someone who understands and can translate properly.A friend of mine was so ill after taking her medications wrongly. If you are going near to Torrieveja there is a good English diabetic support group there and the leader a Spaniard is good at translating medical jargon and his charges are nominal.Good luck enjoy Spain

I'm moving to Sucina, just up the road from Torrieveja; do you have any details on the support group there?