Buying insulin

GeoffreyP · Oct 12th, 2007, 05:58

Hi all, I am new to this forum but not to India. I spent some time there about ten years ago.

My question is I am going to work on a golf course project just over the Goa border for the next 6 months. I am a type 1 diabetic, can any one tell me how I can go about getting insulin supply's wile I am there. I use NovaRapid and Lavamir insulin in cartridges for injection with a pen device.

rajeev1008 · Oct 12th, 2007, 08:17

Getting insulin in India is not a problem, there being a huge number of diabetics here. My father is a type 1 diabetic and lives in a smallish town, and he gets his insulin cartridge for Novopen from the local chemist. I am not sure if NovaRapid uses the same kind of cartridge as for the earlier versions of the pen, but even if it does, you would be able to buy it in Mumbai for sure.

GeoffreyP · Oct 12th, 2007, 14:45

Thanks for the reply. can you buy it over the counter, or do you have to see a doctor first? Do you have any idea what the cost is ?

Geoff

rajeev1008 · Oct 13th, 2007, 07:40

You can by over the counter, just make sure wht you get is what you want, and the expiration date. The insulatard cartridge is avaialble at about Rs 200 per cartridge.

wonderwomanusa · Oct 13th, 2007, 11:43

Since you're going to be carrying insulin, do you know about the Frio wallets that use evaporation to keep meds cool? I've got one and it did a terrific job in Las Vegas so should be perfect for India. You can find a local website on Google.

simv · Oct 13th, 2007, 12:04

Novarapid Rs 300-400

Levemir Rs 700-800

Easily available.

ps - Now India is the diabetic capital of the world with maximum number of diabetics.

GeoffreyP · Oct 14th, 2007, 06:11

Thanks every one for your help. Yes I know about the Firo wallets, I have one big enough to take 2 pens and some extra insulin.

wonderwomanusa · Oct 14th, 2007, 07:15

When do you go, Geoffrey? I'd like to hear about your experiences buying insulin when you return: prices, ease of finding it in smaller towns, etc.

I am Type 2 and was on oral meds on my last visit, but am now using Lantus -- would probably also need Humalog in India because of the huge number of carbs in the meals. So of course, I want it easy to find!

Wishing you safe travels!

GeoffreyP · Oct 14th, 2007, 14:30

hi wonderwomwnusa, I am going to India around the middle of November. I will be living and working in the Goa area on and off for the next 9 months, but coming back to the U.K. for short trips in between. I will be glad to give an update of finding insulin during my trip.

Eopperman · Oct 14th, 2007, 21:40

We had some trouble last December with a friend travelling with us to India. His luggage got lost at our stop-over in Qatar and he had no insulin as it was all in his lost luggage. When we got to Udaipur, he walked to the nearest chemist and was supplied insulin over the counter after showing the chemist his normal prescription (fortunately we scanend a copy of his prescription to a web-based e-mail address and could easily access it). No problems whatsoever. Best of all was that he paid a fraction of the price of what it costs in South Africa!

Eopperman · Oct 14th, 2007, 21:43

GeoffreyP, I would suggest that you scan your prescription for your meds and send it to a web address, such as G-mail, yahoo or the like where you can access your mail account anywhere in India. You should have no probs getting your meds when supplying any chemist a copy of your prescription.

GeoffreyP · Oct 15th, 2007, 04:43

Thanks all for your advice

Geoff

Oct 12th, 2007, 05:58	#1
GeoffreyP Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: U.K. Posts: 7	Buying insulin Hi all, I am new to this forum but not to India. I spent some time there about ten years ago. My question is I am going to work on a golf course project just over the Goa border for the next 6 months. I am a type 1 diabetic, can any one tell me how I can go about getting insulin supply's wile I am there. I use NovaRapid and Lavamir insulin in cartridges for injection with a pen device.

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Oct 12th, 2007, 08:17	#2
rajeev1008 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Delhi Posts: 182	Getting insulin in India is not a problem, there being a huge number of diabetics here. My father is a type 1 diabetic and lives in a smallish town, and he gets his insulin cartridge for Novopen from the local chemist. I am not sure if NovaRapid uses the same kind of cartridge as for the earlier versions of the pen, but even if it does, you would be able to buy it in Mumbai for sure.

Oct 12th, 2007, 14:45	#3
GeoffreyP Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: U.K. Posts: 7	Thanks for the reply. can you buy it over the counter, or do you have to see a doctor first? Do you have any idea what the cost is ? Geoff

Oct 13th, 2007, 07:40	#4
rajeev1008 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Delhi Posts: 182	You can by over the counter, just make sure wht you get is what you want, and the expiration date. The insulatard cartridge is avaialble at about Rs 200 per cartridge.

Oct 13th, 2007, 11:43	#5
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,893	Since you're going to be carrying insulin, do you know about the Frio wallets that use evaporation to keep meds cool? I've got one and it did a terrific job in Las Vegas so should be perfect for India. You can find a local website on Google.

Oct 13th, 2007, 12:04	#6
simv Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: India Posts: 23	Novarapid Rs 300-400 Levemir Rs 700-800 Easily available. ps - Now India is the diabetic capital of the world with maximum number of diabetics.

Oct 14th, 2007, 06:11	#7
GeoffreyP Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: U.K. Posts: 7	Thanks every one for your help. Yes I know about the Firo wallets, I have one big enough to take 2 pens and some extra insulin.

Oct 14th, 2007, 07:15	#8
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,893	When do you go, Geoffrey? I'd like to hear about your experiences buying insulin when you return: prices, ease of finding it in smaller towns, etc. I am Type 2 and was on oral meds on my last visit, but am now using Lantus -- would probably also need Humalog in India because of the huge number of carbs in the meals. So of course, I want it easy to find! Wishing you safe travels!

Oct 14th, 2007, 14:30	#9
GeoffreyP Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: U.K. Posts: 7	hi wonderwomwnusa, I am going to India around the middle of November. I will be living and working in the Goa area on and off for the next 9 months, but coming back to the U.K. for short trips in between. I will be glad to give an update of finding insulin during my trip.

Oct 14th, 2007, 21:40	#10
Eopperman Dedicated world traveller Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 105	We had some trouble last December with a friend travelling with us to India. His luggage got lost at our stop-over in Qatar and he had no insulin as it was all in his lost luggage. When we got to Udaipur, he walked to the nearest chemist and was supplied insulin over the counter after showing the chemist his normal prescription (fortunately we scanend a copy of his prescription to a web-based e-mail address and could easily access it). No problems whatsoever. Best of all was that he paid a fraction of the price of what it costs in South Africa!

Oct 14th, 2007, 21:43	#11
Eopperman Dedicated world traveller Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 105	GeoffreyP, I would suggest that you scan your prescription for your meds and send it to a web address, such as G-mail, yahoo or the like where you can access your mail account anywhere in India. You should have no probs getting your meds when supplying any chemist a copy of your prescription.

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Oct 15th, 2007, 04:43	#12
GeoffreyP Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: U.K. Posts: 7	Thanks all for your advice Geoff