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Type 1 Traveling to USA

S

soundguy

Newbie
Messages
3
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi. I am Type 1 diabetic. I take NovoRapid for my fast acting and Lantus for my background. I am thinking of going to the USA/Canada for a couple of months. Has anyone had any experience getting insulin in either of these two countries? Either buying insulin or getting insulin prescribed by a doctor/pharmacy?

Thanks for any input :)
 
Hi, I have been over to the USA for a number of times for 2+ months.

In answer to your question I haven't any experience of getting insulin over there.
But what I do is take an appropriate amount ( ie 2 months plus some spare) over on the flight in hand luggage to cover the period and then ask someone nicely to store it for me in their fridge. That has worked for me for up to 6 month long trips. I am usually out there on long distance hiking and climbing trips and I package the insulin in small Tupperware boxes in the fridge ready to post and the person posts it to me general delivery to a post office.

If you find a way buying or getting it prescribed then please post here though!

All the best
Brian
 
Thanks for the reply.

"I package the insulin in small Tupperware boxes in the fridge ready to post and the person posts it to me general delivery to a post office."

Do you mean you post insulin from the UK to the USA? Or you get someone from the UK to post your insulin to you when you are in the USA?
 
Hi there - just take the insulin with you. It can stay out of the fridge for a month, so find a fridge for your spare insulin (hotels, friends). Or take a Frio pack (you submerge them in cold water and they keep insulin cool).

Getting insulin out there will be expensive (I have diabetic Type 1 friends in the States) and using your insurance will bump up your renewal costs.

Hope that helps.
 
I live in Canada. Certainly if you are visiting Canada and you need an insulin prescription I would suggest you attend one of the numerous walk in clinics. Easy to locate on google. As a non resident of Canada you would have to pay for the consultation with the Dr and the insulin itself which you can pick up at a pharmacy such as London Drugs or Shoppers Drug Mart. It's very likely the same in the US.
 
Having visited the USA numerous times over the years and being on the same combination as yourself, I can only say 'take your own'! Make sure it is in your carry-on bag (insulin and unpressurised, cold, holds do not make a happy combination) and you won't have any issues through Immigration etc. Plenty of ideas above concerning taking in tupperware (others are available!) boxes and we used a Frio pack when we went to Utah a few years ago to keep the Novopen cold whilst hiking. I think buying insulin in the US will be exceptionally expensive tbh and much cheaper and convenient to take your own.
All I would say is take slightly more than you think you'll need (you never can tell if you drop one and it cracks) and a spare pen for each type (same reason). Otherwise, have a great trip and just treat it like going to somewhere in the UK with a bit of extra travelling!
 
L
Owenn01 said:
Having visited the USA numerous times over the years and being on the same combination as yourself, I can only say 'take your own'! Make sure it is in your carry-on bag (insulin and unpressurised, cold, holds do not make a happy combination) and you won't have any issues through Immigration etc. Plenty of ideas above concerning taking in tupperware (others are available!) boxes and we used a Frio pack when we went to Utah a few years ago to keep the Novopen cold whilst hiking. I think buying insulin in the US will be exceptionally expensive tbh and much cheaper and convenient to take your own.
All I would say is take slightly more than you think you'll need (you never can tell if you drop one and it cracks) and a spare pen for each type (same reason). Otherwise, have a great trip and just treat it like going to somewhere in the UK with a bit of extra travelling!
Click to expand...
Let's say I can adquire a decent amount o cheap insulin here in my country, Would I be able to sell it in USA when I visit there?
 
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