Getting insulin abroad HELP!

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Rachel Tait

Rachel Tait

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hi there,

I am planning a trip to the USA in September for 3 months and have a dilemma I'm hoping someone can help me with.

I will be cycling (eek! it's a super long way) from Florida to California over 3 months.
I won't have constant fridge access and won't be able to bring 3 months worth of insulin with me as it will only keep for 28 days.

Does anyone know the logistics of obtaining my insulin in America?

Any experience on getting prescriptions abroad?

I'm pretty clueless and really struggling to find information on this.

Thanks!
 
Hi Rachel, awesome trip..... You should have some great times.... What's your route?

Some states allow you to buy OTC insulin but the brands & types apparently is limited. The route I'm assuming you are taking doesn't include any states that do allow OTC insulin

The better option is to find an Urgent Care Medical Office (they are all over the place here) & have them write a prescription for you. My wife sometimes visits our local one, but as it's out of plan she ends up paying about $100 a visit (better than taking a morning off work & driving 80 miles round trip to an Urgent Care which is in-plan). Then, assuming you will not have insurance, or at least not insurance that covers insulin you will have to pay full price at the Pharmacy.
You don't say what insulin you are on, the following is a link I found with prices but if there is a generic version then that would be a lot cheaper.
 
Hi Rachel
Sounds really exciting, I half wish I was coming with you (I'd need a much more comfortable sadle for my bike though 😉). Have you looked into medical insurance? Just wondering whether a company like BUPA who offer international services might offer some kind of temporary insurance that would cover you for that period and allow prescriptions to be dispensed. Most travel insurance only covers emergency medical expenses of course and won't cover standard prescriptions. You could give the helpline a ring and see if they can help, the details can be found at https://www.diabetes.org.uk/How_we_help/Helpline/. There are email addresses too if you prefer.

Let us know how you go on, and I hope you keep us updated on your very exciting trip 🙂
 
You said you won't have constant fridge access. Assuming you're not camping out in the wild, why don't you look at getting some cold packs and insulation wraps and then, after that, pack that pack in the middle of your backpack, surrounded by clothes etc. Check each place you stay to see if you can have a room with a fridge and refrigerate and top up the cold packs whenever you can. Obviously it's best to know how to get hold of new insulin if things do go wrong (!) but those tactics might see you through 3 months, even in that climate - or at least limit the cost of buying over the counter.
 
Martin Canty said:
Hi Rachel, awesome trip..... You should have some great times.... What's your route?

Some states allow you to buy OTC insulin but the brands & types apparently is limited. The route I'm assuming you are taking doesn't include any states that do allow OTC insulin

The better option is to find an Urgent Care Medical Office (they are all over the place here) & have them write a prescription for you. My wife sometimes visits our local one, but as it's out of plan she ends up paying about $100 a visit (better than taking a morning off work & driving 80 miles round trip to an Urgent Care which is in-plan). Then, assuming you will not have insurance, or at least not insurance that covers insulin you will have to pay full price at the Pharmacy.
You don't say what insulin you are on, the following is a link I found with prices but if there is a generic version then that would be a lot cheaper.
Click to expand...


Thank you! I will definitely look into that, even to have as a back up that would be very helpful.

I'm on Novorapid and Levemir injections.
 
KookyCat said:
Hi Rachel
Sounds really exciting, I half wish I was coming with you (I'd need a much more comfortable sadle for my bike though 😉). Have you looked into medical insurance? Just wondering whether a company like BUPA who offer international services might offer some kind of temporary insurance that would cover you for that period and allow prescriptions to be dispensed. Most travel insurance only covers emergency medical expenses of course and won't cover standard prescriptions. You could give the helpline a ring and see if they can help, the details can be found at https://www.diabetes.org.uk/How_we_help/Helpline/. There are email addresses too if you prefer.

Let us know how you go on, and I hope you keep us updated on your very exciting trip 🙂
Click to expand...

Thanks for the help! I'm so excited but it's a big challenge.

We are starting in Florida and cycling across the most southern route to LA - depending on weather and time we might actually finish at San Francisco (via Las Vegas). We have 3 months on a tourist visa so will be back in the UK for Christmas. It'll be a mix of camping and staying with lovely people through www.warmshowers.org.
 
Ginny03 said:
You said you won't have constant fridge access. Assuming you're not camping out in the wild, why don't you look at getting some cold packs and insulation wraps and then, after that, pack that pack in the middle of your backpack, surrounded by clothes etc. Check each place you stay to see if you can have a room with a fridge and refrigerate and top up the cold packs whenever you can. Obviously it's best to know how to get hold of new insulin if things do go wrong (!) but those tactics might see you through 3 months, even in that climate - or at least limit the cost of buying over the counter.
Click to expand...

Some of our trip will be spent camping so this is my dilemma. We will be spending hopefully the majority of our stay with other people but if we do end up camping more i don't want to find myself caught short.
 
In a few weeks I'm trekking for 2 weeks in the Himalayas. It will be really hot in the day and very cold at night. I am taking my insulin in Frio packs. Realise you are going for much longer but definitely worth looking at them. Your trip sounds fantastic! My husband has just got home today from cycling across Vietnam and Cambodia. Love an adventure!
 
Rachel Tait said:
Some of our trip will be spent camping so this is my dilemma. We will be spending hopefully the majority of our stay with other people but if we do end up camping more i don't want to find myself caught short.
Click to expand...

I did have to purchase insulin for a three week visit when my insulin froze in the hotel fridge (no door on the freezer compartment!!) the doctor I saw as kind enough to give me the prescription for free, but the insulin cost me over £350. I think keeping the insulin in a thermos flask which is packed into the centre of your panniers should work and using the fridge in any hotels you stay in (but check the setting and freezer compartment).
 
Rachel Tait said:
We are starting in Florida and cycling across the most southern route to LA
Click to expand...
That should be a fantastic trip, weather should be good though around Thanksgiving we do start to get occasional storms moving through the Southwest which can dump snow above 6K (but don't let that deter you as they are short-lived). I live in California so if you want ideas of places to visit then just PM me.
 
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