Child with Diabetes - Medical Insurance

Hi! We are an Australian family about to move internationally for the 3rd time in 3 years. We are currently living in Washington Dc. Our son,5, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes last year.

We currently have United Health care. We might need to have Cigna International Insurance again.

Is anyone familiar with this? I tried to look at Blue Cross but they will not accept any pre-existing conditions. Any ideas?

What is the best Childrens Hospital in HK?

Is it easly to get Insulin and test strips?

We are looking at the Australian International school for him. I called and they have had other children with Diabetes but none at the moment.

We are looking at getting a CGM from Minimed before we leave?

Any good childs Endo's you can recommed?

Thanks a million,

Kindest Regards,

Mandy

Dear exyogi,

Obviously you do not understand what Type 1 diabetes is. I suggest you take a look on the internet. This is something that can happen to ANY child at Any time. For your information my son, as our family does, has a very healthy , active lifestyle. I am a chef and I have cooked EVERY meal from fresh organic produce from the time he was able to eat. This is something that is not caused by lack of exercise and a poor diet. That is Type 2 diabetes.

You have made me very upset!!!! I suggest you check your facts before you start opening you mouth. My son has 4 injections every day, that does not include the days he is ill when he needs more. My son has had diabetes for 1 year. That means 1500 injections and over 3000 finger pokes. This is something that has a dramatic effect on the whole family unit as well as a child. He is 5 years old.

I hope next time you think. You have PISSED me off!!!!

Dear Exyogi

Here is a website for YOU to check out.

wwww.jdfr.org

Sorry my mistake.

www.jdrf.org

Type 1 is an auto immune disease. It is believed to be caused by a virus. The body attacks it's own pancreas and then the body stops producing insulin. Insulin has to be replaced via injection or pump. It mainly affects children hence the term Juvenile Diabetes or Type 1 diabetes.

Most children are diagnosed when they collapse or when they are very ill and have to go to the Emergency department.There is no cure. It can happen out of the blue to ANY child.

Dear xyogi,

I am sorry I was so harsh.

There is no cure.

Nobody has been cured of Type 1 diabetes. EVER.

I get upset and very emotional when somebody tells me of a cure or offer solutions to something to this day , has no cure. Especailly at 2 am. I have spent the last year looking into spiritual healing, natural remedies, natural healers etc. All offer lost hope. Hoaxes. It is heatache over and over again.

My son eats better than any child I have ever met.

Billions of Dollars are being spent Worldwide to find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. It is not something that is comparable with Type 2. Type 2 as I mentioned is due to a poor diet, no expecise and genetic factors.

I appreciate you trying to help. The day I will sleep peacefully will be the day that there is a cure and my son can live a life that god intended.

And I can have a decent night sleep without checking my son at 3am to make sure his blood sugars have not dropped too low that will put him into a seizure or a coma.

Kindest Regards,

Mandy

Hello Mandy,

Can't help with the endo. I did check into prescriptions in general and was told Hong Kong has access to most if not all meds so you should be ok even with insulin pump. (I checked with a medical travellers association for China)if that helps.


However, I am a type 1 diabetic of 21 years. Excellent health myself thanks and just arrived in Shanghai. I'll be here for about 6 months. I've volunteered heavily in my teens with other diabetics and many of us would not want a cure if presented. I'm still in touch with a healthy diabetic since six months old. She is mother of 2 and no complications. Others I'm still in touch with are also in good shape. Believe it or not, this just becomes a way of life. You are still at the beginning of this if your son was only diagnosed a year ago. Best of luck to you; it does get easier and I never wake up in the middle of the night to test.

So far, I'm still trying to reduce my insulin enough to account for the eating here (yeah!) as I only arrived 2 weeks ago! I think it is supremely important to have support via other diabetics. Your son is a little young but parents and children go through all the stages or mourning when a child is diagnosed with a chronic disease like diabetes. If you end up visiting Shanghai and would like to get together I'd be happy to chat with you and your son or chat via email. It normalizes things to know other diabetics. I found it very encouraging when I worked at a pharmacy and found many retirees who were healthy Type 1's.


Here's a story for you. When my cousins were little I always included them in my testing and injections. I was always meeting drug reps through volunteering and later working in a pharmacy and had the 'newest of the new' so I always told my cousins that Diabetics had the coolest toys. At six years old my cousin's best friend was diagnosed. First thing my cousin said to him? "Ahhh, you're so lucky. Diabetics get the coolest toys". It's all in how you look at it! And, what a way to normalize his friend's 'scary' diagnosis! This little guy was also the youngest at local teaching hospital to administer his own injections. As usual, his parents were more concerned than he was.


Good luck Mandy, and have hope. This is far from a death sentence.

Mandy. Hi, fellow Type 1 here... was diagnosed 32 years ago and moved to HK last week.


Insulin is widely available here. Most all of the Lilly products are available. Definitely Humulog. You mentioned CGM, is your son on a pump? I pump and love it. If he is on a pump and you are currently using the glucose monitor that "talks" to the pump then you will need to bring those strips with you. They are not available in HK. As for syringes, does he use the lo-dose ones? I will check at the pharmacy and see what they have.


I have Cigna International. I think they are great. Anything "medically necessary" they normally cover. Once you change over, just ring them and explain that the strips, etc. are not available in HK. I do not expect you will have a problem. I purchase a years supply of everything from Minimed at one time.


I know changing insurance companies and having Diabetes can be very daunting. Are you or your hubbie with a large corporation?


The hospital I would choose is Hong Kong Adventist.


I am currently looking for an endo as well. As I search I will look for a pedi endo also.


Let me know if you have any other questions, I will be happy to help.


:)