Medical advice for a diabetic

I was diagnosed type2 some years ago thanks to the Spanish health service positive attitude to testing and early intervention. My medications are all covered here on the same terms as if I were Spanish, so I pay 10% of the costs, capped if they get over a certain sum per month (not reached it yet but they do say ‘cada año un compromido más’).

Currently I take daily tablets of Jalra, Simvastina, Enalapril, Adiro100, plus Repalglinida before each meal, and 58 units of insulin perday using a lantus, and my last month’s supply was around €15.

Get your S1 sorted with Newcastle as soon as you are entitled, so you can register with the Spanish health system. 

Hi Jeff,

Like you I have followed this forum and find it very helpful but I rarely contribute just take in the advice.  My husband and I haveplanned our early retirement to the Costa Calida for two years and finally we leave on the 30th of May.  I am a 58 year old early retiree and  my husband is 55, I am also an insulin dependant diabetic and this has been of concern to me with my new life in the sun.  Unfortunately it always seems to be a grey area so I can only tell you what I've found out during the last two years. 

Simvastatin, valsartan (Blood pressure), Metformin tablets that most of us are prescribed are available at most pharmacies in Spain quite cheaply to buy.  Insulin is also available to buy at the chemist but is around 30 euros per pen or there about.  As diabetes is regarded as a life long condition I have read that we will pay 10% of the cost of the medication, how this is done I will be finding out (I Hope ).

After a one year of living in Spain we will be residents and you can then pay 60 euro's a month for the Spanish health system, I know this is expensive but my private health care for the first year is very expensive!!. Gov.uk and the NHS site are really helpful.

I can always let you know all you will need to know when I start my new life in Spain.

Best wishes,

Gaynor107

Gaynor107,

Thanks for this. I would be very interested in how you get on. We are still undecided if we will move lock, stock and barrel or if we keep on our UK address and come out for a few months at a time.

Peter C,

thank you for your reply. I am also on blood pressure tablets. I will do some more research and also look at private health schemes.

Look at Metformin whilst you are researching. I suffered badly with side  affects from it and they changed me to the much more expensive Jalra. GP said they try the cheap option first, and it does suit some users but vidalgliptina is regarded as superior.

Qualifying for state health care, paid for by the UK, is a whole other subject but worth talking to the nice folk in Newcastle, as the health care here is very good and as you know it is not just a case of getting your medications right.

Peter C

I was also on Metformin, but it didn’t work for me so I am now on Novorapid and Lantus injections.