travelling diabetic

whatsilliness · Jun 9th, 2005, 09:57

Hello everyone!
havent been active around here for a bit, but am back!

I will be visiting india for 4 months- july 17th- november 18
I am a diabetic and am obviously taking a full supply of insulin with me.
For 2 1/2- 3 months, i will be living in a house (i will be in ladakh volunteering so room is provided through a friend) so there i do not have a concern about refrigeration.

however, the last month/month and a half i will spend exploring southern india.
my question is how available is refrigeration in cheap hotels. not in the rooms themselves obviously, but by the main desk? or.. i dont knwo where?

i am staying in only lowbudget hotels: 350 rupees at most/night.

also, in case of emergency: how easy is it to attain medical help/ go to a pharmacy and buy insulin?

any other diabetics out there?

thanks everyone.

crvlvr · Jun 10th, 2005, 00:06

most hotels -- even cheap ones will have access to refrigerators. However, you should be more concerned about power outages. Consider taking a "cold pack" or one of those packs that will insulate your insulin.

wonderwomanusa · Jun 10th, 2005, 07:16

I'm Type 2 diabetic and was there recently. Eating "typically Indian" meals, it was difficult to keep control over my blood sugar; you'll likely be more successful with insulin.

Pharmacies are everywhere and given the appallingly high rate of diabetes in India, you shouldn't have a problem buying insulin -- I hope you can get whatever sort you use.

I've heard about cold packs that work on a water evaporation principle; you might want to ask your pharmacist about them as they'd be much better for travelling than something requiring "blue ice" or hoping for refrigeration.

crvlvr · Jun 10th, 2005, 07:59

Quote:

given the appallingly high rate of diabetes in India..

I am curious. .is it higher than norm/rest of the world?

crvlvr · Jun 10th, 2005, 08:13

I did some quick research on Diabetes.. here goes (Sorry, I cannot seem to format it):

Diabetic
Population (Million) Rate

India 31.7 2.9%
China 20.8 1.6%
US 17.7 6.0%
Indonesia 8.4 3.5%
Japan 6.8 5.3%
Pakistan 5.2 3.2%
Russia 4.6 3.2%
Brazil 4.6 2.5%
Italy 4.3 7.4%
Bangladesh 3.2 2.2%

whatsilliness · Jun 11th, 2005, 11:04

thanks everyone!

whatsilliness · Jun 11th, 2005, 11:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by wonderwomanusa

Pharmacies are everywhere and given the appallingly high rate of diabetes in India, you shouldn't have a problem buying insulin -- I hope you can get whatever sort you use.

.

dont all different countries have completely different insulins?
I use Humolog and Lantus..

i think even the insulins in europe and america differ..?

do you need a prescription to get insulin in india?
ive read that you can get alooot of drugs with no prescriptions here on Indiamike, does that apply to insulin and syringes as well?

also, do you happen to know how expensive insulin is there?

wonderwomanusa · Jun 11th, 2005, 11:29

>>dont all different countries have completely different insulins?
I use Humolog and Lantus..

i think even the insulins in europe and america differ..?<<

So you will need to know the scientific name for what you take, to be sure you're getting what works for you.

>>do you need a prescription to get insulin in india?
ive read that you can get alooot of drugs with no prescriptions here on Indiamike, does that apply to insulin and syringes as well?<<

I've never had an Rx for anything I've bought in the pharmacy in India -- that includes birth control pills (my younger days), antibiotics and that awful stuff we take for amoebic dystentery. Insulin, probably not. Syringes..hard to say.

Perhaps someone here will ask one of their diabetic relatives about that.

>>also, do you happen to know how expensive insulin is there?<<

Sorry, I'm Type 2 and take my meds in pill form; have no idea how much insulin costs anywhere.

wonderwomanusa · Jun 11th, 2005, 11:33

><iven the appallingly high rate of diabetes in India..

>>I am curious. .is it higher than norm/rest of the world?<<

Perhaps I should have said "the appallingly high increase in the rates of diabetes in India," because I read articles that indicated this is a growing problem.... for the same reasons it's growing in the US and other countries: big reduction in physical activity, a lot of sitting around watching TV or the computer. And in India, there's no big emphasis on slimness (fat used to mean rich -- doesn't it still?) and the diet is extremely high in carbohydrates.

I researched food choices on a couple of India/Diabetes websites before I went over there in 2003; it was pretty interesting.

wonderwomanusa · Jul 12th, 2005, 08:42

whatsilliness ... someone mentioned to me the name of the water-activated insulin coolers -- these are called "Frio wallets" and if you Google for this, you'll get a lot of hits, so hopefully you can get something like this before you leave.

whatsilliness · Jul 12th, 2005, 09:35

you are my #1 super hero, wonderwoman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wonderwomanusa · Jul 12th, 2005, 12:31

I hope the Frio works for you ... let me know when you return, okay? The way things are going, I, too, could be on insulin... (sigh)

Jul 12th, 2005, 09:35	#11
whatsilliness i like to go through obsessions... Join Date: May 2005 Location: new york Posts: 102	you are my #1 super hero, wonderwoman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! __________________ Bedazzled by Brilliance? Or Baffled by Bullshit?

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Jun 9th, 2005, 09:57	#1
whatsilliness i like to go through obsessions... Join Date: May 2005 Location: new york Posts: 102	travelling diabetic Hello everyone! havent been active around here for a bit, but am back! I will be visiting india for 4 months- july 17th- november 18 I am a diabetic and am obviously taking a full supply of insulin with me. For 2 1/2- 3 months, i will be living in a house (i will be in ladakh volunteering so room is provided through a friend) so there i do not have a concern about refrigeration. however, the last month/month and a half i will spend exploring southern india. my question is how available is refrigeration in cheap hotels. not in the rooms themselves obviously, but by the main desk? or.. i dont knwo where? i am staying in only lowbudget hotels: 350 rupees at most/night. also, in case of emergency: how easy is it to attain medical help/ go to a pharmacy and buy insulin? any other diabetics out there? thanks everyone.

Jun 10th, 2005, 00:06	#2
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hollywood Posts: 4,667	most hotels -- even cheap ones will have access to refrigerators. However, you should be more concerned about power outages. Consider taking a "cold pack" or one of those packs that will insulate your insulin.

Jun 10th, 2005, 07:16	#3
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 4,261	I'm Type 2 diabetic and was there recently. Eating "typically Indian" meals, it was difficult to keep control over my blood sugar; you'll likely be more successful with insulin. Pharmacies are everywhere and given the appallingly high rate of diabetes in India, you shouldn't have a problem buying insulin -- I hope you can get whatever sort you use. I've heard about cold packs that work on a water evaporation principle; you might want to ask your pharmacist about them as they'd be much better for travelling than something requiring "blue ice" or hoping for refrigeration.

Jun 10th, 2005, 08:13	#5
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hollywood Posts: 4,667	I did some quick research on Diabetes.. here goes (Sorry, I cannot seem to format it): Diabetic Population (Million) Rate India 31.7 2.9% China 20.8 1.6% US 17.7 6.0% Indonesia 8.4 3.5% Japan 6.8 5.3% Pakistan 5.2 3.2% Russia 4.6 3.2% Brazil 4.6 2.5% Italy 4.3 7.4% Bangladesh 3.2 2.2%

Jun 11th, 2005, 11:04	#6
whatsilliness i like to go through obsessions... Join Date: May 2005 Location: new york Posts: 102	thanks everyone!

Jun 11th, 2005, 11:29	#8
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 4,261	>>dont all different countries have completely different insulins? I use Humolog and Lantus.. i think even the insulins in europe and america differ..?<< So you will need to know the scientific name for what you take, to be sure you're getting what works for you. >>do you need a prescription to get insulin in india? ive read that you can get alooot of drugs with no prescriptions here on Indiamike, does that apply to insulin and syringes as well?<< I've never had an Rx for anything I've bought in the pharmacy in India -- that includes birth control pills (my younger days), antibiotics and that awful stuff we take for amoebic dystentery. Insulin, probably not. Syringes..hard to say. Perhaps someone here will ask one of their diabetic relatives about that. >>also, do you happen to know how expensive insulin is there?<< Sorry, I'm Type 2 and take my meds in pill form; have no idea how much insulin costs anywhere.

Jun 11th, 2005, 11:33	#9
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 4,261	><iven the appallingly high rate of diabetes in India.. >>I am curious. .is it higher than norm/rest of the world?<< Perhaps I should have said "the appallingly high increase in the rates of diabetes in India," because I read articles that indicated this is a growing problem.... for the same reasons it's growing in the US and other countries: big reduction in physical activity, a lot of sitting around watching TV or the computer. And in India, there's no big emphasis on slimness (fat used to mean rich -- doesn't it still?) and the diet is extremely high in carbohydrates. I researched food choices on a couple of India/Diabetes websites before I went over there in 2003; it was pretty interesting.

Jul 12th, 2005, 08:42	#10
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 4,261	whatsilliness ... someone mentioned to me the name of the water-activated insulin coolers -- these are called "Frio wallets" and if you Google for this, you'll get a lot of hits, so hopefully you can get something like this before you leave.

Jul 12th, 2005, 12:31	#12
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 4,261	I hope the Frio works for you ... let me know when you return, okay? The way things are going, I, too, could be on insulin... (sigh)