One of my colleagues was talking to me today about her pending trip to India and how much stuff she has to take and so I started telling her about how I want to go overseas permanently fairly soon.

We’re thinking about going to either 1)France cos we’ve lived there before or 2) Canada because it will be the best of the English and French speaking worlds and my partner can have an easier career as a musician woriking in his native language while I work happily in either. We’re far from any form of organised with this obviously (not that it’s pie in the sky) but me being me dreaming about all the details in advance I suddenly realised that I’m going to need insulin while I’m over there and I don’t have a French or Canadian passport! The pump consumables are easy enough cos they aren’t free here and they won’t be there either meaning that it doesn’t make a difference but I’ll sure as anything not be able to afford the cost of novorapid at the rate that I use it if it comes to the point I have to buy it. The first day that I was in Paris having moved there in 2005 all my insulin got stolen (and then replaced thanks to insurance) but I had to pay about $1700 from memory until they refunded me the cost and that was only for 4 months worth.

Has anyone had experience living overseas having to get insulin without being a resident or being able to access the local health system? I’d be really keen to find out what kinds of hoops I’m going to have to start jumping through to get my stuff…

- Aaron