Anti Malaria Medication

[Mud Island Dweller]

If all goes to plan we are looking at going to South Africa next year, nearest to home l have been since l left. We will be going to/through a malaria area. Before diabetes l could cruse through the densest mossie swarm and be ignored...now every biting blood sucking evil minded insect in creation homes in on me, well it did last year before l found out l had T2, things may be different now it is under control but l can not risk that so will need cover.

Does anyone know which is the best anti Malaria meds to take and any problems with them. And any other advice you can throw in. I will go to the Dr of course but the better armed l can be the better l will feel.

Oh and in general anyone have any ideas for anti bite for mossies and other biting sucking evil insects as we may also go up to Scotland this year and l do not want the ****** midges to get me again.

many thanks
MID

 

[Osidge]

Hi

I have never needed malaria medication but found this: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Malaria/Pages/Treatment.aspx

Hope it helps you.

Doug

 

[carty]

Avon Skin so Soft dry oil body spray or bath oil in the original flavour ! keeps the midges away and the mozzies dont like it either
CAROL

 

[Mud Island Dweller]

Skin so soft was for me "Human mayo so good"
Yup Doug thanks l found that when l was looking the other day l was looking more for if anyone had used anything and potential problems.

 

[Osidge]

Sorry I could be of no more help. I hope that we have some others on the forum who have experience of taking malaria medications.

Regards

Doug

 

[abs]

What part of South Africa? It's hard to advice the type without knowing where you are going. Mosquito spray is useful to take jungle formular works the best level 3. Keep covered up also helps and most places should have nets to go over you at night to protect you as at night is the worst time that they come out.

 

[Mud Island Dweller]

Joeys , Pretoria and down the Berg which all has red over it. But malaria free still get mossies eating Cape Town up to Durban and Kruger and Down to Karoo (with first 3)
Hub threw in yesterday did l fancy spending a few days at home so may look at going up to Bulawayo but fly there from Joeys and if so wont do Karoo

 

[sanguine]

Although I've only just been diagnosed, my work takes me to west and southern Africa fairly regularly, for which I take Malarone which I get from my local Travel Health Consultancy. I also have a Yellow Fever 'ticket' with about 7 years validity left at the moment. Next time I'll ask him about any interactions with diabetes he's aware of.

 

[Dogsmaster]

If all goes to plan we are looking at going to South Africa next year, nearest to home l have been since l left. We will be going to/through a malaria area. Before diabetes l could cruse through the densest mossie swarm and be ignored...now every biting blood sucking evil minded insect in creation homes in on me, well it did last year before l found out l had T2, things may be different now it is under control but l can not risk that so will need cover.

Does anyone know which is the best anti Malaria meds to take and any problems with them. And any other advice you can throw in. I will go to the Dr of course but the better armed l can be the better l will feel.

Oh and in general anyone have any ideas for anti bite for mossies and other biting sucking evil insects as we may also go up to Scotland this year and l do not want the ****** midges to get me again.

many thanks
MID

We travel to warm climates, and a few years ago I decided that it would be wise to get a malaria vaccination. I took chloroquin, in pill form to be started about a week before you travel. At 5PM I took my first of a series of pills, and after dinner my blood sugar levels plummeted horribly. I am not from the UK but my levels went down to 2-3…VERY VERY LOW. I was repeatedly taking glucose despite the fact that with every passing minute i felt worse and worse. I was throwing up and my body hurt from head to toe, especially my bloated abdomen. I was exhausted and by 11:30 the only way I could think to get some sleep was to drink a beer, which I only do during high activity levels such as fire wood, when I need to bring my bsl up by about 6 points. in this case it only elevated it by about 3. I set my alarm or every half hour to do repeated checks and was still feeling horrible. I managed, but for the next week I was sicker than a dog, no pun intended. I refused to continue the vaccine regimen, and went for a reiki treatment. The technician said that it had hit my liver, kidneys and spleen, and i could feel it because my abdomen was huge. A yoga instructor had experienced issues when she took it also. When she returned from a holiday her doctor diagnosed her with liver cancer, but when she finished the chloroquin her symptoms vanished. Chloroquin is used as both a vaccination, and a treatment for malaria. Timing was so close that I thought i might have to cancel the trip.

Good luck

 

[phoenix]

Out of interest ,I had a quick look and research does suggest that chloroquine reduces glucose and also cholesterol levels. (not exhaustive, just the first three that came up)
One rat study suggest that it causes increased insulin secretion.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12087927
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8487662
http://www.endocrine-abstracts.org/ea/0021/ea0021p139.htm

 

[sanguine]

I'm off to Cote d'Ivoire next week for 6 days so I've just been to collect my malarone supply. The travel health specialist said there were no contraindications with malarone and diabetes that he was aware of, and I'm not expecting any since I've taken it many times before and I'm not on any medication. I'll continue testing through the course but it might be difficult to tell any changes in BG with all the other environmental, food and climate changes going on.

 

[Randburg]

If all goes to plan we are looking at going to South Africa next year, nearest to home l have been since l left. We will be going to/through a malaria area. Before diabetes l could cruse through the densest mossie swarm and be ignored...now every biting blood sucking evil minded insect in creation homes in on me, well it did last year before l found out l had T2, things may be different now it is under control but l can not risk that so will need cover.

Does anyone know which is the best anti Malaria meds to take and any problems with them. And any other advice you can throw in. I will go to the Dr of course but the better armed l can be the better l will feel.

Oh and in general anyone have any ideas for anti bite for mossies and other biting sucking evil insects as we may also go up to Scotland this year and l do not want the ****** midges to get me again.

many thanks
MID

hI,
Let me know were you will be visiting and when, and I can advise if I think you need to take Malaria Medication.
If it is a short period I would possibly not take medication, but be sensible, and you should have no problems.
I know South Africa pretty well, lived here for 60+ years

 

[sanguine]

Whereabouts are you Randburg? I travel to Jo'burg about once a year and was doing project work in the Northern Cape last year (not many mozzies there!).

 

[snugglewumpus]

Hi

I have never needed malaria medication but found this: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Malaria/Pages/Treatment.aspx

Hope it helps you.

Doug

Whereabouts are you Randburg? I travel to Jo'burg about once a year and was doing project work in the Northern Cape last year (not many mozzies there!).

Try Artesunate. I've been using that anytime I got Malaria over last 10 years in West and Central Africa. Worked well for me and no problems.

 

[Randburg]

Whereabouts are you Randburg? I travel to Jo'burg about once a year and was doing project work in the Northern Cape last year (not many mozzies there!).

Hi Sanguine,I stay in Randburg, a suburb of Johannesburg, but worked for a Shell owned company as a National Safety Manager, so have travelled extensively around South Africa, in my working days also stayed in Port Elizabeth and Durban for a while.
Love the Northern Cape, Hardly any mossies' there, they more on the other side towards Mozambique.
My Brother was married to a lady who was born in Springbok, and I spent a few holidays in and around the area.
Where did you operate out of ?

 

[sanguine]

Hi Sanguine,I stay in Randburg, a suburb of Johannesburg, but worked for a Shell owned company as a National Safety Manager, so have travelled extensively around South Africa, in my working days also stayed in Port Elizabeth and Durban for a while.
Love the Northern Cape, Hardly any mossies' there, they more on the other side towards Mozambique.
My Brother was married to a lady who was born in Springbok, and I spent a few holidays in and around the area.
Where did you operate out of ?

Should have guessed that from your name! I was at Aggeneys (the mine site) between Springbok and Pofadder.

 

[Randburg]

Should have guessed that from your name! I was at Aggeneys (the mine site) between Springbok and Pofadder.

Not actually been there,(but around the area whilst looking at the wild flowers, assume you seen them) a bit warmer than English weather ?

 

[sanguine]

Yes, it was very pleasant - not sure I'd want to spend a long time there though!

 

[Randburg]

Yes, it was very pleasant - not sure I'd want to spend a long time there though!

Agree don't think it would be my choice either many more pleasant places in the country

 

[ealingr]

Just to add, I've taken Malarone multiple times with no noticeable impact on anything diabetes-related. When needed, I find a combination of covering up and DEET spray fairly effective at saving me from the bites.