Traveling to Thailand with diabetes? You should have no problem at all there with insulin, food, blood sugar checks, and facilities. But before you go, check out these tips for staying safe and traveling smart with diabetes in the accommodating so-called Land of Smiles.
In this guide to traveling to Thailand with diabetes, you’ll find a few common-sense tips and learned advice, including:
- Info about food and insulin in Thailand
- Advice for buying diabetes supplies in Thailand
- Tips for traveling around Thailand with diabetes supplies
- Keeping insulin cool and safe in the hot Thai weather
- Links to detailed travelogues from a Type 1 traveler to Thailand
The main thing to remember about traveling in Thailand with diabetes is that you need a little preparation and a lot of good attitude!
How to prepare for Thailand with diabetes
If you’re going to be in Thailand a short time (less than a month or so) then try to take all your supplies you’ll need with you. The best formula for this is to calculate how much insulin, testing strips, pills, and/or other medication you’ll need for the length of time you plan to stay there, then double it.
Why double it? Because it’s always better to be safe than sorry, and if something goes missing or spoils, you’ll have plenty of backup. But really, the main reason is for your own peace of mind. No sense in exploring the many wondrous sights of Thailand while preoccupied with medical supply matters.
Humalog purchased in Bangkok.
After you’ve doubled up on everything, perhaps stocking up over the preceding weeks when you make your regular pharmacy runs, divide it all into halves. Keep one half in a big bag (suitcase or backpack) and the other half in your day pack. Then always take your day pack everywhere – even when stepping out for a couple minutes.
If something happens to your stuff in one bag, you’ll still have everything you need in the other. Note, however, that anything bad happening to you is very unlikely. I’ve been to Thailand several times, traveling all over and staying at all kinds of different places, and I’ve never had anything bad happen to my supplies. Dodgy guesthouses, long treks in the sun, rough bus rides – nothing has hurt my insulin and blood sugar supplies in Thailand.
So, be prepared, and then relax.
Keeping insulin cool in Thailand
There are ways to keep your insulin cool, the most obvious being a refrigerator at your hotel or guesthouse (almost all will have one somewhere they’ll let you use), and a cool pack like Frio for the stuff you’re carrying around with you all day. Frio packs are nice because all you do is dunk the waterproof bag in water in the morning and it cools itself all day long. Plus, they’re made specifically for insulin and come in a variety of sizes and colors.
But again, in all honesty there isn’t much to worry about. Even in the hot Thai sun, if you keep insulin a few layers away from direct sunlight (like I do, in a pen case wrapped in a shirt inside your day pack, for example) it will stay cool enough. And in a hotel room, even without refrigeration, again a supply of insulin should stay cool enough if it’s buried in your bag out of direct sunlight or warm places.
If you do use a refrigerator, be sure to label your stuff (like with your room number) and try to make sure all the staff people know about it, just to make sure they don’t throw it away. And when you check out, don’t forget it! You’ll be retracing your steps just to get your medicine which is pretty annoying.
Food in Thailand
Thai food for diabetic travelers is often made of rice and noodles. And hot dogs from 7-11, if you have the same unfortunate culinary tendencies that I do. Roadside food stalls are everywhere and reliable. If many people are eating from a stall it’s almost certainly very safe, and even quiet ones on small dark streets can be fine. (I’ve never gotten sick in Thailand from road food.)
Markets also abound in Thailand, and while it can be hard to identify everything, it’s fun to just stroll through and purchase a hodge-podge of things based on sight to try later. You’ll probably find some things are sweet that you weren’t expecting, or aren’t sweet even though they look like it, but it’s all worth trying. You can even try big insects from certain markets. I can’t help you with insulin doses for a snack of giant flying cockroaches, but if you try it by all means let me know how it goes!
Famous Thai dishes like pad thai are cheap, and fairly easy to dose for. Especially if you eat them regularly, you can quickly figure out how much it takes. Noodles in Thailand can be pretty dense, and higher in carbs than they look, but then again in many versions of pad thai or noodle soup, there aren’t really that many noodles.
International stores like McDonald’s are in Thailand too, although it’s a shame to eat there really. You can also find things like sandwiches and pizza across Thailand, especially in bigger places.
Breakfasts in Thailand for travelers usually consist of Western foods: many hotels offer a cheap in-room breakfast consisting of thin slices of toast, eggs, sausages, juices, coffees, etc. The toast in these meals should be the same carb count as regular bread back home (no more than 15 grams per slice), and yogurt will have carb info on the package that’s easy to figure out. Failing a hotel breakfast, modern coffee shops like Starbucks are not too hard to find in Thailand as well, and offer the usual carb-heavy muffins and doughnuts.
Low blood sugar snacks in Thailand
Many Thai people make money by keeping up a teeny-tiny little grocery market; you see them on almost every street. There is a usual core group of items available at these places – drinks in the cooler, chips and cookies and kitchen noodles on display.
Stock up on low blood sugar snacks whenever you can in Thailand, and treat it like your medical supplies: possess more than you’ll need. You can choose whatever you like best – I tend to buy Dewberry cookies in Thailand, which are cheap, common, tasty, and come in various flavors, plus a bottle of orange juice. I keep a couple bottles of juice plus a couple packs of Dewberry on me at all times, and keep another supply back in my room just in case I eat everything and can’t find a store or kiosk.
If you’re going out walking or kayaking or biking or something for the day, take even more low blood sugar snacks. Hopefully you won’t need that many, but there are likely no places to buy anything outside of towns. (Then again you may be surprised to see a 7-11 in the middle of nowhere.)
If you do travel to Thailand with diabetes, let me know what low blood sugar snacks you carried with you. Try the Dewberry!
Getting around Thailand
Train and bus travel is common in Thailand; the rail network is extensive and reliable, and buses go pretty much everywhere else. Note that on trains people will walk up and down the aisles selling drinks and sometimes snacks; while the timing is unreliable, you won’t go hungry on a Thai train. At stations people wait on the platforms to sell homemade foods to stopping passengers through the windows. Rice balls and various fried things are common, and highly recommended for the low price and for the fun experience.
Eating on Thai trains in public is no problem – you’ll see other passengers doing it so go ahead. (Just don’t toss the styrofoam and plastic bags out the window like some of the locals do!)
Buses in Thailand are different – if you’re going to be on a bus for a long while, try to buy food beforehand because there will probably not be anything to buy on board. You’ll make stops, but it’s hard to know when. Don’t get caught without lunch or dinner; buy it beforehand.
On both buses and trains in Thailand, buy low blood sugar snacks before you get on. Set aside a few minutes for it and don’t forget.
Buying diabetes supplies in Thailand
Rules and regulations change, but in all of my own experiences buying insulin, BG testing supplies, or other medical supplies in Thailand, it has been fairly easy and even somewhat cost-effective. Pharmacies even in small towns either have what you need or can order it with a few days’ notice; you can also try provincial hospitals because they’ll have pharmacies attached.
Here are some of my unplanned experiences looking for diabetes stuff around Thailand; your own experiences may resemble these:
- In Bangkok, I checked a few pharmacies to ask if they had Humalog. Finally one did, but not pens. They had small pen refills, so I bought a refillable pen from them just for Thailand. That made it easy when I had to stock up yet again in the future.
- In Chumphon, I had to see a doctor at the provincial hospital to get a prescription for insulin. She spoke English and said that while Humalog was unavailable – I’d have to go to an expensive private hospital – they could see me ActRapid. I’d never heard of it, but I bought it and tried it. It worked fine, though it was syringes and vials, and was ultra cheap.
- In Surin, the local pharmacy didn’t have OneTouch Ultra strips and couldn’t get them. They stocked something called OneTouch Horizon instead. I bought the machine for very cheap, and the strips from them.
As you can see, a little open-mindedness and some flexibility is key. I of course don’t recommend switching to unknown insulins without a doctor’s blessing, but I did do it and found there was no problem. The more I visit Thailand the more I notice that the selection in pharmacies is growing. (OneTouch Ultra strips are easier to find, as is Humalog pens, etc.)
If you run out or for some reason need to restock on diabetes stuff in Thailand, it’s ok. Just set aside some time to do it, check with a few pharmacies if you need to, and be patient and friendly. They’re there to help, and they will do everything they can to understand your English and to give you what you need.
You’ll be fine!
Thai heat and blood sugar
Many diabetics have extra trouble in the scorching heat of Thailand. Blood sugars can drop in the heat, or in other cases they can rise through dehydration or some other mysterious reason. That, plus the tasty and cheap and common alcohol and physical exertion that are a part of so many trips to Thailand, can make blood sugar especially volatile.
In the boiling heat on the “bridge over River Kwai”.
The trick to a smooth time in Thailand with diabetes is check your blood sugar often. Check it before a meal, just after a meal, and a couple hours after that. Check it in the mid-afternoon. Check it before bed. Get lots of data and see what you can learn from it, adjusting your insulin for next time.
Don’t expect your diabetes to behave “normally” (as if anyone’s does that!) in Thailand, but don’t expect it to be absolutely crazy all the time. The stress of time zones and travel and changes in weather and food all threaten blood sugar. Absorb the blows, check your BG often, and work with diabetes to make it as smooth as possible.
And remember: a day of bad BG in Thailand is better than a day of good BG back home!
Your trip to Thailand with diabetes
If you have visited the Kingdom of Thailand with diabetes yourself, or with someone who is diabetic, let me know your experiences there. How were your own BGs? What did you eat?
And even if you don’t have diabetes I’d still like to hear about your trip. Where have you been in Thailand? What did you do?
If you are planning a trip to Thailand – first of all, good for you! It can be a really life-changing experience. And if you have any questions or comments, please let me know.
You can go anywhere with diabetes!
Read more about my travels in Thailand
Come along on the adventure! Follow detailed travelogues about the wondrous sights, fascinating people, and varied diabetes experiences I encountered as a traveling T1D in Thailand:
Day 94: Sleeping Between Bombs: An Accidental Night In Hat Yai
Day 96: Out Of Harm's Way And Into Trang
Day 99: Ladyboy Show At Kae's Guesthouse, Chumphon
Day 102: Buying Cheap Insulin In Chumphon, Thailand
Day 113: The MacBook Breaks And Threatens To End My Trip Early
Day 121: Just Visiting Chumphon, Thailand – Or Do We Live Here Now?
Day 127: Forget The Big Cities – Go To The Provinces
Day 179: A Reunion And A Romp Through Bangkok
Day 180: Over The River And Through The Woods To Vientiane We Go
Day 192: Emergency Ambulance Across An International Border
Day 201: Recuperating By The Mekong River: After The Hospital
Day 206: Somewhere Over The Rainbow Is Udorn Thani
Day 211: Sukhothai's Split But Happy Personality
Day 218: Why Nobody Stays Overnight In Poipet
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How about the long trip from the states (St Louis, Mo) to Thailand. What do you use to pack medicine in to keep cool and any problems going through TSA and what paperwork do you need, if any? Thanks
I usually pack my insulin in a foil bag, with an ice pack on the outside of it. Oddly, the TSA has never seemed interested in this big weird blob on their scanners. You can take a note from a doctor explaining that this traveler has diabetes and needs X insulin and Y supplies; I’ve never been asked to show this but it can’t hurt.
Once they understand you’re diabetic they seem cool. They must see it a lot. But you should be fine. Going to Thailand…? 🙂
I have been extremely nervous about going to meet my Fiancé parents in Thailand due to my diabetes. I can not thank you enough for writing this article. This is the first time in 6 months I am breathing a sigh of relief. Now all I worry about is her parents 😀 . North Carolina resident. Thanks again
Derek,
Thanks, I’m glad the article helped you! Have a good time in Thailand. I hope you can remember to come back and leave a comment after you’re there; I’d like to hear how it’s going. Good luck with the in-laws!
This is the most helpful article i have come across so far after weeks of researching about type 1 diabetics travelling to Thailand! Very helpful 🙂
Glad to hear it Sophie. Thanks! Enjoy your trip 🙂
How is travel through security on connecting flights then Thailand with syringes or insulin pumps?
I’m sure it would be smooth. The worst that might happen would probably be the pump, not the syringes. They might want an explanation but they see things like that every day so it shouldn’t be a big deal.
I would suggest traveling with a doctor’s note explaining that you need a pump for diabetes; you can download a free template here and have your doctor fill it out and sign it: https://www.t1dwanderer.com//subscribe/
Let me know how it all goes.
Hello,
I am going to teach in Thailand this coming spring. I am a diabetic and use the flex pens, Novalog and EU 500 Humalog. I asked my Endo to try and get me a year supply as I will be in the country for a year teaching. If I am able to get this much along with needles, test strips,and meters how will customs deal with this as I want my own, not from Thailand since I am sensitive to certain insulin’s.
Roz,
I haven’t entered Thailand with a large amount of insulin/supplies recently, but I think you’ll be ok, especially if you have a note from your doctor. (I have a free one you can download here.) You can also take one example of all the original packaging of each type of medication you have with you to show to quizzical immigration officials.
Where in Thailand are you going?
Anything on having hypoglycemia and not ending up in a Thai jail, because you went nuts. Any Thai wrists bands that tell you’re diabetic in Thai if someone finds you passed out on the street?
Hi JV,
I’d hope you won’t go nuts enough to land in jail due to a low! Medical people will know “Diabetes Type 1” so I’d just get a bracelet, anklet, or necklace that says that (in English). You could maybe get something fashioned yourself that says เบาหวาน on it – even a rubber wristband that you write on with a Sharpie. Sounds like a good traveling T1D crafts project.
Do you need to contact Thai narcotics division if you’re traveling with insulin?
Vania,
Not sure; I’ve never heard of doing that. Do you think it might be a good idea? Lots of people travel with medications so it’s not like border guards and security personnel have never seen it.
No. There’s no need to contact anyone with regard to medication that you have a prescription for. The narcotics division of the Royal Thai Police is concerned with illegal narcotics not prescription medication. I’ve been travelling to Thailand regularly for nine years and can confidently assure you that this particular division of the Thai police is not even slightly interested in your medication. Not only that, but I’m not even sure how you would inform them.
Just follow the usual rules for travelling with medication, carry your prescription, keep the containers that have your name on them etc. You’ll be fine.
Diabetes is fairly common in Thailand and no one will be the least bit surprised by the fact that you’re diabetic.
On another note, Thai food often contains quite a lot of sugar even if it doesn’t taste all that sweet. It’s to do with the ‘balancing’ of flavours used in cooking. So if you remember the phrase เบาหวาน (bao waan) and let people know in restaurants and such, they will usually make sure to add less sugar to your meal (lots of meals are prepared to order).
Hi, I flew to Bangkok and then to Trang, I did not have any problems with insulins with me. I also have the insulin cooling bag with me. At my current bungalow at Koh Mook there`s no fridge and I felt unsafe to leave my insulins to the reception`s fridge, so I keep them in the cooling bag (I got some ice to cool it from the reception). At the airports nobody even asked to see doctor`s sertificate about my type 1 diabetes. All has gone well 🙂
Susa,
Great job! Thanks for the report on your experiences in Thailand traveling with insulin.
I’ve kept insulin in guesthouse refrigerators and stuff before but as you say you have to trust the place. The ice idea seems excellent though.
I always advise diabetics to travel with a doctor’s note but I’ve never had to show mine either. There were a couple times that I didn’t have one but could have used it, but since I’ve been carrying one… it’s stayed in my bag.
Keep keepin’ on! Let us know more about your travels in Thailand 🙂
Jeremy
really good that you’ve done this article massive confidence booster and I will be reading a lot more before I go cheers. type 1 with insulin pump and have medical tattoo on my wrist will they recognize the medical sign in most places ?
Ryan,
Thanks! I’d imagine medical people would recognize an appropriate symbol. What is the “medical sign” you have tattooed, a caduceus?
the sign that’s on the side of ambulances normally a long needle with two snakes going up it with wings sorry don’t no the name lol, do you no anyone who has travelled with an insulin pump and sourced supplies for them out there ? cheers
Ryan,
I’m afraid I don’t know about getting pump supplies abroad, but visitors to t1dwanderer.com have told me they have done so. In most big cities I’m sure everything is available somewhere, especially a place like Bangkok where lots of foreign tourists come. And since Thailand has a good infrastructure I’d bet even smaller places could get what you need. Part of the fun of traveling with diabetes is that you’re forced to conjure up what you need – even in tough spots I’ve always found a way. I’d be curious about what you find out there 🙂
I am a Type 1 diabetic using and insulin pump. Will I have trouble keeping it charged in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Bangkok?
Sylvia,
I have never used a pump myself but I’m sure you’ll have no problem there with yours. Those are all nice modern towns 🙂 I’d love to go to those two places; they’ve been on my Thailand bucket list for years! Let me know how it goes there for you!
Hi Jeremy,
I really enjoyed your article. I have been a type 1 diabetic for 49 years, and have been traveling all over the world with my insulin pump / continuous glucose monitor. I generally hate to read articles about traveling with diabetes because they seem to over-emphasize the concerns and under-emphasize the “you can do this! and enjoy!” attitude – they kind of depress me. But as soon as I started to read your article I was just happy to be reading it.
I have a travel blog and wrote a long article last fall about packing for Southeast Asia for a two month trip. If you read it, you might wonder about my saying I just want a “can-do and enjoy” attitude, due to its attention to detail. I pack for the worst and then just enjoy. Well, here it is: http://powerstotravel.com/diabetic-travel-travel-tips/a-diabetic-southeast-asia-packing-list-with-a-gotcha-thats-two-months/ The trip was a fantastic success and I have memories to last a lifetime.
At the moment I am busy writing about the trip, and I’ve only gotten through the first 4 days in Bangkok, but I hope to keep going until I finish all 63 days.
I’ll be reading more of your blog. Thanks for the up-beat attitude.
Hi Wendy,
Thanks! It’s great to see another T1D travel blogger with an exploring attitude. I will check your blog out as soon as I can (on a break at work right now and can’t do it properly) but it sounds right up my alley.
Being prepared for problems is how you put the worry behind you and just enjoy the journey, I agree!
Jeremy
Wendy,
Thanks so much for the article. I am a 65 year old Type 1 diabetic. I was just diagnosed in the past 5 years. I love to travel and I am still getting use to going overseas with my insulin pump and CGM. The most hassle I have run into is at the airport. You would think that airport personnel are use to medical devices, but is not the case. I have been embarrassed more than once in US Airports. I take insulin pens with me for emergency purposes. They are both short and long acting. I also find that Airliner personnel are really hesitant to put insulin in the refrigerator for storage. I finally had to get a FRIO cool insulated bag for my Novolog.
I am on my way to Thailand in October. I will be reading your article again about traveling there as a diabetic.
Sylvia Palm
Hi Sylvia,
I too am surprised to hear you’ve had so much trouble at airports with your diabetes machines. I thought personnel saw this stuff many times a day. Huh.
How has Frio worked out for you? I’ve always wanted to try it but somehow, never have.
Jeremy
Hi Jeremy,
I really enjoyed reading your article. It reassured me on the issue that I am facing at the moment, but will still ask for your advice… Just in case!
I have been in Thailand for 3 weeks now and only have 2 days left before going back home. Am leaving Ko Phangan in the morning for a 12hrs transit to Bangkok. Spending 24hrs on Bangkok before hoppping on plane back home.
Tonight, I realized that I will run out of Lantus tomorrow morning. We will be staying next to a big mall in Bangkok so will go straight to the pharmacy at arrival hoping that they sell it so I can take my night dose. But if they don’t… Considering my time crunch, what would you recommend? Flight back home is 25hrs, so in total I will require 6 Lantus shots (taking it morning and bed time).
Thanks alot and will definitely look at your other travel recommendations for my next trip.
Mireille,
Now that’s a classic diabetes travel problem 🙂
I would guess that you’ll be able to buy Lantus easily in Bangkok at most pharmacies. The worst case scenario might be that you have to buy some other type of long-lasting insulin. Of course I’m no doctor, and wouldn’t specifically recommend you to start switching medications on your own… but hey, I’ve done it and things worked out.
Actually in that circumstance there will probably be someone in the pharmacy who can speak a little English and advise you what to do. Thai medicine is pretty advanced and safe and knowledgable.
But overall, I think you’ll be buying some Lantus there very soon.
Please let me know what you find; I haven’t tried to buy Lantus in Thailand in a while!
Jeremy
Hi Jeremy,
I was very happy to get your quick reply! So we arrived in Bangkok late in the evening. Alot of drugstores were about to close when we finally were able to get to one. Luckily for our last night we were staying in Siam Square, so we found a drugstore that closed at 11pm. They spoke perfect English vut had no insulin. They told us to go to a hospital for elderly ppl and drew us a map on how to get there from the nearest metro station. Said that they have all types of insulin there and definitly Lantus.
We thought about it for a while. I ended up deciding not to go because we were so tired from all the traveling and that with the time zone changes that we were about to go through, it was probably going to be easier to manage my blood sugar only with humalog. We were about to go back in time of 11hrs over the next 26hrs.
Think it was the right decision for me. One way or another in that travellong situation my blood sugar is always hard to manage, so it was hard this time too but not that bad. Just checked it alot and took many injections. I think it was more flexible usong only humalog.
Thanks again for the advice and the reassurance!
Mireille,
Wow, bold choice! Piecing together Humalog shots instead of the basal 😉
Yeah it’s a tough prospect, to go gallivanting around Bangkok late at night hunting insulin after a flight. Unenviable situation, but part of the fun chaos of travel.
So you did eventually find Lantus ok?
Jeremy
I am 65 and female on my way to Thailand net month. How do I count cabs for Thai street food? Also I might have problems with heat and sweating. Do they have Gatorade in Thailand?
Hi Sylvia,
The best way to handle street food is to make your best guess, see what happens, and refine it the next time you eat the same thing. i.e., don’t worry about a high or low or two at first. Rice and noodles are the same as anywhere, so once you have an idea how to count them you should be able to guess pretty closely. Of course (I don’t need to tell you!) always check afterwards and see how you did.
The last time I was in Thailand, there were 7-11s everywhere and yes they all sell Gatorade. Thai people get hot too 😉
Have fun! Please come back and let me know your your trip is.
Jeremy
Hi am travelling to Phuket next month, currently on insulin pump not sure if to stay on my pump or go back onto pens, worried about travelling there with pump, and all my paraphernalia, first overseas holiday I years, and being diabetic.
Hi Lorraine. What are your concerns exactly about using your pump I’m Thailand? I don’t use one myself so I’m not sure what issues you might encounter there. The infrastructure in Thailand is quite advanced so you will be able to access any services you might need.
Hi Lorraine, I just got back , October, from Thailand, Chiang Rai and Ching Mai. I had no problem with my pump in Thailand. I however had a terrible time wit the pump and security in Beijing China, and Bangkok and Chiang Mai Airpots. We missed our flight from China to Bangkok because of security. Also ever county is different. I had a Dr.’s note, which did not make a bit of difference. I travel internationally a couple of times a year. This is the first time I had trouble.
If you can manage your blood glucose with short and long acting pens, that is the best option.
I you have registered with TSA pre-check or TSA Global Entry, ou will not have an issue with the pump in the US.
Also the extreme heat has an effect on blood sugar. Also we were walking all day every day. Take a water bottle so you can always have water. Most hotels give you a complimentary bottle. Take some glucose tablets t keep in your purse. Have fun. We ran across 7-elevens everywhere.
Flying Edinburgh – doha and Doha to Phuket haven’t been on pens for a number of years
Hi,
It’s been few year I want to visit Thailand but I have a fear to go there as I am diabetic with taking insulin. I also use a free style libre sensor for glucose checks.
I somehow know I am a bit of paranoid, but it is really common there? I always has the fear that it will be difficult to explain what are the injections I am carrying with me and hence get into troubles. I am aware to the fact that I lost a lot of fun in my life because of my fears, but usually when I travel within any western country I never have these thoughts.
I will appreciate your response.
Thank you
Hi, I’m currently in Chiang Mai. And with all that has been going on in the world the streets are quiet and I can’t turn to anyone and ask where I can get insulin, would it be cheaper to get a medical insurance at this point and how much does insulin truly cost. I use Humalog form the brand Lily. It’s a mix of 50-50. Can anyone help out? Thank you!
Thank you for your encouraging article. From the comments above many people have found your attitude, experience and practical advice very useful.
50 years of T1 here, currently using Tresiba (basal) and Novorapid (bolus), monitored with Freestyle Libre or Accucheck.
The last time I was in Chiang Mai was to take a 2 week long motorcycle trip around the ‘golden triangle’, with my wife on the bike too! Heat, intense concentration, and a heavy bike (machine and 2 people = 4 times my body weight!) made it a pretty athletic, and spectacular, trip. Much less insulin than usual was needed. Regular glucose checks (every 45 minutes), lots of water in a Camelback, and my favourite carb boost of chocolate milk periodically!
As a T1 since teenage I have worked on offshore oil platforms for over a decade, lived in Abu Dhabi, Saudi, Oman, Bahrain, Indonesia and California – and qualified Advanced scuba! Also run 25 marathons including warm ones in Singapore, San Francisco, Dubai!
I hope this doesn’t sound show-offy, not my intention at all – but I wanted to join in the article’s spirit that the T1 condition is a minor inconvenience but not a barrier to anything!
In times of Covid, it is wise to be aware in Thailand that medical services for Type 1 diabetics are poor. CGM is completely unavailable, including in hospitals. Additionally in hospitals, diet provisions are limited, leading to a much higher fatality rate for Diabetics.
If you try to send CGM equipment here, you will find at the least that you will need to provide an original paper letter from a Thai doctor stating the medical importance of this. And you will need to provide that on every send. Even then there is a decent chance they will destroy your package. If you are lucky enough for your supplies to make it through, you will have huge tax and storage fees to pay. Basically doubling or tripling the already high cost of the original supplies in usa or elsewhere, plus the high courier send.
I’m Prosper visiting Thailand. I am a type 1 diabetic on insulin (Actraphane). Will I be able to get a supply of this insulin anywhere here in Thailand or I will have to consult a doctor for a prescription.
Hi Jeremy,
It is so hard to find diabetic content for traveling to Thailand so THANK YOU for your article. My husband and I want to move to Thailand but he has type 1 diabetes.
Would you be able to share how much vials of Humalog are out of pocket in Thailand? Is it easy to obtain? Do you ever use a pump vs pens?
Thanks in advance.