Hey. I’m a type 1 diabetic and I love travelling. I would love to travel long term (over a year) or want to teach abroad and possibly move long term. Has anyone had much experience in regards to this? How did you find getting hold of insulin or moving abroad and getting regular medical appointments? Did you have to pay out of your own pocket or is there support with this? I’ve been so reliant on the nhs for years I’m nervous about going ahead with my plans. Any advice or guidance would be appreciated. Thank you!
Desperately wanting to travel!
- Thread starter TeresaMc
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- Type of diabetes
- I reversed my Type 2
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Teresa, lots of folks do as you’d like to. Exactly how it works very much depends where you go and any reciprocal arrangements for medical care with the UK. If you use the search function yo likely find some useful info.
Good luck on your travels. Adventures are out there to be lived.
Hi Teresa,
As AndBreathe has already mentioned it all comes down to where you are going, but in my own experience, the only place that I received free insulin was back in the UK, before I left permanently. I always told my Doctor when I was travelling and where too, plus how long, they would give me a big prescription to cover that time and that would last me whilst away, that was about 14 years ago, since then I have not been back to the UK and in each country I travelled I brought my own medication.
That again depends from country to country some places they are strict on prescriptions other places they don't really care as long as you pay the going rate you're good to go.
If you're only traveling for six months I think your local GP will cover your prescription needs during that time plus give you a letter to show at airports throughout the world why you are carrying insulin and needles with you. If however you are traveling for longer than six months and have no real return date yet, then you really need to consider about having to budget the cost of insulin, needles, test strips etc in to your travels. Some countries it is cheap other countries it is expensive, again though if you can get a doctor's letter explaining that you're diabetic if you find yourself in a country that has cheap insulin then stock up before you leave to your next country.
Finally do not let your diabetes impede your dreams, travel around the world and follow those dreams you can deal with the diabetes every step of the way, just a little planning ahead is needed.
Thanks
As AndBreathe has already mentioned it all comes down to where you are going, but in my own experience, the only place that I received free insulin was back in the UK, before I left permanently. I always told my Doctor when I was travelling and where too, plus how long, they would give me a big prescription to cover that time and that would last me whilst away, that was about 14 years ago, since then I have not been back to the UK and in each country I travelled I brought my own medication.
That again depends from country to country some places they are strict on prescriptions other places they don't really care as long as you pay the going rate you're good to go.
If you're only traveling for six months I think your local GP will cover your prescription needs during that time plus give you a letter to show at airports throughout the world why you are carrying insulin and needles with you. If however you are traveling for longer than six months and have no real return date yet, then you really need to consider about having to budget the cost of insulin, needles, test strips etc in to your travels. Some countries it is cheap other countries it is expensive, again though if you can get a doctor's letter explaining that you're diabetic if you find yourself in a country that has cheap insulin then stock up before you leave to your next country.
Finally do not let your diabetes impede your dreams, travel around the world and follow those dreams you can deal with the diabetes every step of the way, just a little planning ahead is needed.
Thanks
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Thank you so much for this! It’s good to know I don’t need to be as nervous about travelling long term. Can I ask, how did you find not having constant contact with a diabetic specialist? I know it’ll be easier now with emails and apps but did you feel like you needed that?
Hi Teresa,
Not a problem at all.
You really do not need to be nervous when travelling, it just takes a little planning, just as you do everyday at home now.
When I left, I knew that I would not be coming back anytime soon, its now been 14+ plus years and I do not see myself coming back there again.
So as I knew that, I already had it in my head that I will be giving up all the diabetic medical care that I had been given the previous 8 years when I was first diagnosed. So I was prepared mentally for that and knew that I needed to find alterative insulin when abroad.
I did stock up when I left as I told my GP my intentions, I also bid farewell to my diabetic team and they even insisted of giving another appointment which of course I never attended as I said I would not at the time they gave it to me.
Something you need to remember though, as soon as you leave the country, no one from the NHS will be willing to help or assist you, so my advice is not to tell them if you contact them when you are abroad, unless you are particularly friendly with them, but on a professional level they are not allowed to help you at all, once you leave.
Now this was many years ago, so maybe things have changed in the NHS.
If I can be on any further help, please do ask and if I can honestly advise you, then I be more than happy to do so.
You live once, so follow your dreams always.
Not a problem at all.
You really do not need to be nervous when travelling, it just takes a little planning, just as you do everyday at home now.
When I left, I knew that I would not be coming back anytime soon, its now been 14+ plus years and I do not see myself coming back there again.
So as I knew that, I already had it in my head that I will be giving up all the diabetic medical care that I had been given the previous 8 years when I was first diagnosed. So I was prepared mentally for that and knew that I needed to find alterative insulin when abroad.
I did stock up when I left as I told my GP my intentions, I also bid farewell to my diabetic team and they even insisted of giving another appointment which of course I never attended as I said I would not at the time they gave it to me.
Something you need to remember though, as soon as you leave the country, no one from the NHS will be willing to help or assist you, so my advice is not to tell them if you contact them when you are abroad, unless you are particularly friendly with them, but on a professional level they are not allowed to help you at all, once you leave.
Now this was many years ago, so maybe things have changed in the NHS.
If I can be on any further help, please do ask and if I can honestly advise you, then I be more than happy to do so.
You live once, so follow your dreams always.
Thank you so much! This has honestly made me feel so much better. I’ve really held back and it’s so good to hear someone else has already taken the plunge and not had too many issues.
Could I ask how much does it cost you a month to pay for supplies such as medication and equipment? Do you use injections or pumps?
I appreciate your help and will probably have plenty of questions in the future! Wishing you well!
Could I ask how much does it cost you a month to pay for supplies such as medication and equipment? Do you use injections or pumps?
I appreciate your help and will probably have plenty of questions in the future! Wishing you well!
Hi Teresa,
It all depends on where you are going to go for your trip, some countries cost more than others.
I could get by with my own insulin (Aprida and Lanctus Injected), needles, test kit, strips on about 150 British Pounds a month.
I have though had to pay up to 500 British Pounds a month, so as mentioned before, do a little homework to the countries you decide to go and if one country is cheaper with supplies then buy, but again if you are going away on a 6 month break, then your local GP should prescribe you that amount to last you.
I also pay more than I need to, like I buy Libre 1 sensors from my part of the world and get them shipped to me, I am actually about to buy some UK ones this afternoon to send out to me, as they are Libre 2 and only going to cost me an extra 1 British Pound. What I am trying to say if you want to pay more then you can, just do some research before arriving in the country and see what is available there.
I do not need prescriptions, as I have lived here long enough, but costing and seeing a doctor to get a script should not cost that much, again depends on where your travelling.
If you use a pump, I am sorry I am not well versed on them and I would hazard a guess that in my part of the world they would be very far and between and only for the very wealthy of this country may have them.
I hope that helps a little and please follow your dreams, the world is a huge place and you will have some of the most amazing experiences, you can control your diabetes with just a little planning.
Thanks
It all depends on where you are going to go for your trip, some countries cost more than others.
I could get by with my own insulin (Aprida and Lanctus Injected), needles, test kit, strips on about 150 British Pounds a month.
I have though had to pay up to 500 British Pounds a month, so as mentioned before, do a little homework to the countries you decide to go and if one country is cheaper with supplies then buy, but again if you are going away on a 6 month break, then your local GP should prescribe you that amount to last you.
I also pay more than I need to, like I buy Libre 1 sensors from my part of the world and get them shipped to me, I am actually about to buy some UK ones this afternoon to send out to me, as they are Libre 2 and only going to cost me an extra 1 British Pound. What I am trying to say if you want to pay more then you can, just do some research before arriving in the country and see what is available there.
I do not need prescriptions, as I have lived here long enough, but costing and seeing a doctor to get a script should not cost that much, again depends on where your travelling.
If you use a pump, I am sorry I am not well versed on them and I would hazard a guess that in my part of the world they would be very far and between and only for the very wealthy of this country may have them.
I hope that helps a little and please follow your dreams, the world is a huge place and you will have some of the most amazing experiences, you can control your diabetes with just a little planning.
Thanks
As other have said. It all depends on which country you are going to. Also travelling from place to place is different than teaching abroad (or doing any other job) officially. If doing that one would presume you would have a work contract that could even make you eligible for healthcare in the same country.
Just as an example (though this is going back a few years - way before Brexit may have changed things) - In Spain I was working LEGALLY (lol) and so was registered with a doctor there. I just got prescriptions as normal - the only difference being that you have to pay for diabetes prescriptions there - though the prescription there gave something like a 90% discount on the non prescription pharma price - which as you can imagine is MASSIVE and practically a life changer in terms of being able to live. At the time this meant insulin was around 4 euros for one months supply of one type - without of course full price would have been 40 euros (so 80 in total just for the insulin alone).
If you are well off I guess that would not matter as unlike in the UK you can pretty much buy anything direct from the pharmacy in Spain if you have the money.
Also when I was living abroad the idea of having blood sensors on arms etc. was not a thing. I did not have a clue what my blood sugar levels were like most of the time - due to the nature of the finger prick- test strip regime. Travelling has never really been easier. It was actually abroad where I was changed over from the pen + cartridges (remember the Lily etc.) to the actual throwaway pens I am still on now.
As others have said you can generally get 3 months supply from an NHS doctor if you tell them you are going on a "long holiday" or something so that would at least give you a start.
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Thank you so much for this! I didn’t think you would be eligible for health care unless you were a citizen so I’ve learnt something new! Again, I appreciate hearing other’s stories. It’s helping me build my confidence to go, so thank you.
I have a friend who is a designer from the UK who lives in India over 20 years. She is type 1 and buys her own meds over there. Private hospitals in Goa are not expensive but in the cities they are massively over-priced without insurance.
It hasn't changed. You can get 3 months worth of med's but they will not advise you even from Spain.
