Diabetes in Europe

Each country has a different health system. Just like Canada and the US. "Europe" is a bit broad.

Can you be a tad more specific?

Or, if you don't want to share the countries, I suggest you google the health systems in each country you are interested in and see what they say.

I am a diabetes sufferer but I don't want to have to list all 30 plus countries on the off chance I'll hit the one you are going to.

I'm a Type II diabetic, and found travel in Europe no problem. Your girlfriend would need to handle her diabetes the same there as in your home country.
You just need to make sure your girlfriend's healthcare pays when on vacation in other countries. My insurance will repay me for any healthcare used overseas.

What medical care will your girlfriend need? Hopefully she would not need to visit a doctor while on holiday.

She needs to carry all her diabetes "stuff" (as my wife used to call it) with her, and enough supplies for the duration plus contingency.
Carry a few days supply in hand luggage, in case your suitcases disappear, and if you have more than one case, split it between the two.
You will have no problem at security or customs, in the unlikely even they spot your "stuff", they are used to diabetics.
If she carries a card saying she is a diabetic, get that printed out in all the languages of the places she is visiting. You can find translations to printout on the internet.

One minor problem, in southern European countries they sometimes put sugar in things you don't expect it in, like Orange Juice. Learn to ask for it without sugar.

Also coffee sometimes has sugar in it. Be sure to ask for drinks without sugar.

Thanks for responding guys!

Thanks for the advice, Chris F. We'll make sure to bring a doctors note and enough supplies.

Nigel, we're looking at visiting Italy and Austria. Sorry, I should have specified before.

I have type 2 diabetes, use insulin, and assume that anyone with type 1 is insulin dependent. I've traveled with insulin a lot over the past decades, and I've had zero issues with airport security. Your girlfriend (gf) should check with her pharmacist about how necessary it is to refrigerate her insulin. It happens that the 2 kinds I use (Novolog and Lantus in glass vials) can safely remain at room temperature for up to 28 days, but that may not be the case for all insulins. When I travel, I keep the vials in the small boxes they came in with the pharmacy prescription labels attached. Before security I pull them out and put them in my 3-1-1 bag and then put them back in the carrier for the rest of the trip.

Your gf may need to purchase an insulin vial or pen carrier with a cooling element. If so, she should get the kind of element that can be prepped in cold water rather than in a freezer. That way she'll be OK in accommodations without refrigerators or ice. I think what's inside the cooling element is a gel, so she'll need to declare it before going through airport security. As medical equipment, it shouldn't be a problem. I have a Medicool brand Protectall which easily fits inside any carryon luggage I've used. The vials won't fit unless I take them out of their boxes, so I fold up the empty boxes and carry them on top of the compartment that the vials and cooling element are in.

As an alternative, I have used a small insulated plastic cup with a screw on lid which I found at a dollar store. I filled it with cold water and then put the vials in it and secured the lid. If your gf tries this, she should save the plastic caps that come on her new insulin vials and use them before putting her insulin in the water to prevent contamination in case there's something in the water. She'll need to find some other safe place to carry the boxes with the prescription labels.

I second the recommendations about carrying a card identifying your gf as diabetic. I carry a membership card from the American Diabetes Association and another card from Medic Alert, and I also wear a Medic Alert bracelet identifying me as diabetic. The bracelet is a b*tch for me to take off and put back on by myself before and after security because of how the clasp works, but it's worth it because no one has ever questioned it.

Marc, good points. We're definitely going to use your advice. Finding hotels with fridges is going to be key. Thanks for the advice.

My wife has diabetes and we've traveled to Europe many times. I second the recommendations and comments made so far. In particular Marc's suggestion for a cooling element. I'm sure there are others, but my wife uses one of these: http://www.frioinsulincoolingcase.com . Also, we have frequently asked to put insulin in a hotel's refrigerator overnight; I can't remember being turned down.

As others have said, taking enough supplies is important. Due to a lot of walking my wife was having low blood sugars and even after adjusting her insulin intake she was taking glucose tabs. She ran out of glucose tabs in Chur, Switzerland, and we had a difficult time explaining and finding what we needed. Good luck and have a great trip.