Backpacking South East Asia with Type 1

[Matthew0007]

Hello everyone,

I am looking for some advice. My girlfriend and I recently booked one way tickets to Thailand (we have money for flights back) and we will be travelling around SE Asia for a few months from country to country, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Phillipines, Sri Lanka, Laos, Malaysia.

But we are struggling to find out how much insulin we can bring into each country. We are emailing and speaking to the embassy’s but struggling to make it clear that we will need more than for just the specific country we are talking too.

Has anyone ever done this?
Does anyone know the limits on insulin that we can take into these countries?
Do we need any more than just a doctors note and prescription?
Is there anything else we need to know about travelling SE Asia with Type 1?

We intend to take enough insulin, rather than buying it out there as we are on a budget (although, if we need to we will). So if there is a way around buying it out there, I’d really appreciate it. Doctors haven’t given us a proper answer as they are unsure themselves.

I use Lispro and Glargine.

 

[Diabetes UK]

Hi Matthew, sounds like a great adventure, best of luck with your trip!!

Have you looked at the IDF (International Diabetes Federation) website? You can search on 'Region' and find diabetes organisations (IDF members) who you could possibly contact by email in each country, eg. Thailand: https://www.idf.org/our-network/reg...bers/115-thailand.html?layout=details&mid=159

They would likely know information specific to diabetes in their country, and would have a better understanding of the need to travel with additional insulin. Have you looked at whether you can purchase your correct insulin in each country as well, in case anything happens to your supply? You can usually ask the manufacturer if an equivalent is available.

You could also try searching for Type 1 backpacker blogs? Eg. https://blogs.diabetes.org.uk/?author=62714&paged=2
There are quite a few about, so you may be able to find advice from others who have already trodden the Southeast Asia trail ...?

Best of luck, hope you are able to find some more solid answers!

 

[mikeyB]

Hi Matthew, welcome to the forum.🙂

The only people who know for sure whether you can obtain your insulin in those countries are the companies who make it. Give them a ring - they’ll be able to tell you where to get supplies.

As Hannah says, others have been before you on the diabetic SE Asia trail, so it’s well worth reading their experiences on their blogs, and learn from them.

Best of luck, mate, and get back safe and sound, tell us all about it. Don’t miss any recommended jabs, and don’t eat any presliced fruit like watermelon.

When we backpacked round Europe years ago we kept our fluid levels up with bottled stuff - coke, wine and beer. Avoided water like the plague. And ice in drinks.

 

[Bronco Billy]

Hi Mathew0007. I can’t add anything to what Hannah has already said, but I hope you have a great trip. I admire your spirit.

 

[Susie982]

Hi
Last year I spent a few weeks in Thailand, there was no issue getting insulin into the country (I had 4 weeks worth), however on an internal Thai flight my insulin (& a Spanish childs insulin also) had to be signed off and recorded by the head of the security scanning through the airport - they just filled out some paperwork, I had to do nothing. They didn't quiz me about the amount I had with me, albeit I'm sure it will be a lot less vs what you will be bringing.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Thanks for your helpful information @Susie982, though this thread is 6 months old, so I suspect Matthew is probably already on his travels!