• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Visiting UK - which cgm?

EllieM

Moderator
Staff Member
Moderator
Messages
10,203
Location
New Zealand
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
hypos and forum bugs
I am travelling to Europe/UK on Wednesday so will be in a slightly more UK friendly time zone for a while.

I managed to run out of dexcom sensors on Friday night (extreme incompetence in sensor management, thought I still had another pack of 3). Now I can't get any more before I go on Wednesday (won't reach me in time since it's a bank holiday for the King's Birthday today). So am contemplating having them sent to my sister-in-law in Essex (will be there on Thursday) from the UK.

So many choices
1) Try out L2 (L1 stopped working for me but maybe the L2 will)
2) Get standard G6s sent (I've still got an unused transmitter but don't think I'll be able to get it through all the airport security without an xray so probably best to leave it at home
3) Try out G7. (I'll probably have to uninstall the app when I get home as I think the G7s are geolocked). The G7 is avaiable in New Zealand and I was thinking of trying it out after I got back from my trip. (yes my phone is on the list for working with G7)

Anyone know how long the dexcom/Abbott are likely to take to send a sensor if I order on Monday morning?

Recommendations?

On the plus side, this means I won't have to fight with airport security over my unused dexcom sensors/transmitter, which is a big plus.. (Last time I went on a trip with a spare transmitter it got xrayed/fried by Doha security and worked for less than a week when I eventually used it).
 
Hi, good morning.

In the UK when you arrive it is possible to get Libres over the counter at the local chemist. Asda or Boots pharmacy would probably be a better bet? (My experience when I was self funding.)
Lol, you might get told, “you should have these on prescription.”:
 
becca59 said:
You should be able to ask for items to be looked at and swabbed separately rather than go through the X-ray. I know people do that at airports here.
Click to expand...
I did this recently in EuroStar security. It's pretty much the same as airport security, but without the liquids rule.

I carried my spare Dexcom transmitter (along with my pump, still attached to me) in my hand as I approached the walk-through metal detector and just said I had medical devices. They swabbed it one way, and wanded it the other way. I'd do the same with any medical device with a transmitter (FreeStyle Libres, Dexcom G7 or spare pump).

It was straightforward and easy, although I've heard other people have different experiences if you catch a security person on an off day.
 
Finnlee said:
It was straightforward and easy, although I've heard other people have different experiences if you catch a security person on an off day.
Click to expand...

The trouble is that I have to go through many security checks to get to the UK from New Zealand. And most of them are reasonable but you only need one to be difficult. Though I will remember to ask if they can swab in the future.

On the plus side, have just rung dexcom UK and my supplies will be with my sister in law tomorrow. Unfortunately the G7 is geolocked so I'll have to wait to trial it, but the price was cheaper than I'd pay in NZ (Maybe something to do with vat exemption in UK, while I have to pay 15% gst in NZ).

Might still try a L2 out of curiosity, but there is no hurry...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…