Help Switching Diabetes Care to the UK!

[zacgammiere8]

Hello, my name is Zac. I am 25 years old M and I am a Type 1 diabetic. I am an American who has been living in the UK since 2017. I am partnered with a settled status person and have a resident permit through 2025 under EU Right to Reside. I have been getting my diabetes supplies in 6 month increments from the USA since living here but need to transition over to the UK system for insulin and supplies to manage my diabetes. As this is an all new system to me, I am finding it difficult to figure out where to start and what steps I need to take in order to start managing my diabetes from the UK. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you in advance!

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum Zac. Glad that you have found us and look forward to hearing more from you.

I am not at all sure about what access you will have so I have flagged this with @lucy who may know more.

 

[Kaylz]

May be wrong but I think @SB2015 might've meant to tag @LucyDUK I'll also tag @Josh DUK too as they may have information or you could maybe even try ringing the helpline
xx

 

[SB2015]

May be wrong but I think @SB2015 might've meant to tag @LucyDUK I'll also tag @Josh DUK too as they may have information or you could maybe even try ringing the helpline
xx

Thanks @Kaylz . Too early!!

 

[Deleted member 27171]

Hi @zacgammiere8 I think you should have access to NHS healthcare with your residency status (strong emphasis on think there as I’m by no means expert in that area).
Assuming you do, the first step is to register with a GP as it will be from there that your prescriptions are issued. Most people with Type 1 get their general diabetes care in a hospital setting so you may want to research hospitals in your area to see if you there are any you favour in terms of their diabetes care and ask that the GP refer you there, although the GP will probably be able to advise you about services locally too.
Are you using a pump or pens Zac? If pump then you will need to check that the one you use is available in the UK and it will only be the hospital who can arrange supplies for this. The insulin shouldn’t be a problem, but may have a different brand name here so worth looking that up before you see GP.
Im attaching some links here that might be helpful:

Moving to England from outside the European Economic Area (EEA)

Find out about the NHS services available to you if you're moving to England from outside the European Economic Area (EEA).

www.nhs.uk

Visiting or moving to the UK with an insulin pump - JDRF, the type 1 diabetes charity

Learn about understanding the UK health system for people with type 1 diabetes when moving to the UK from overseas.

jdrf.org.uk

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @zacgammiere8

Good luck with jumping through all the required hoops to transfer your care. Let us know how you get on 🙂

 

[Josh DUK]

Hello, my name is Zac. I am 25 years old M and I am a Type 1 diabetic. I am an American who has been living in the UK since 2017. I am partnered with a settled status person and have a resident permit through 2025 under EU Right to Reside. I have been getting my diabetes supplies in 6 month increments from the USA since living here but need to transition over to the UK system for insulin and supplies to manage my diabetes. As this is an all new system to me, I am finding it difficult to figure out where to start and what steps I need to take in order to start managing my diabetes from the UK. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you in advance!

Hello @zacgammiere8 ,

Fellow american here in the UK 🙂 If you have a resident permit then you have access to the NHS health service. I found it quite confusing as well when I moved here. It would be best to register with a local GP practice near you and make an appointment after you register. It is quite an easy process. Double check your local GP website because of covid 19.

 

[zacgammiere8]

Thank you so much everyone for welcoming me and giving great advice! This has been very helpful and I will set up a meeting with my GP and get the ball rolling. Cheers again! xx

 

[Josh DUK]

Thank you so much everyone for welcoming me and giving great advice! This has been very helpful and I will set up a meeting with my GP and get the ball rolling. Cheers again! xx

No problem! Please come back and let us know how you get on with it.

J