By David Eidell, 10/07
Important Note: The author of this article is not a medical doctor nor connected in any way to the medical community
Most diabetics have to be well organized, and then if a diabetic happens to be an RV'er, well, it can be assumed that they must plan to the ninth degree everything from their day's meal planning to an entire trip, and that would certainly include Mexico. Short trips are not much to worry about. It's when a trip stretches to four to six months that the following information may prove useful.
Before the trip, try and obtain a "backup" glucose meter. Make sure it uses the same test strips as your main meter. Purchase back up batteries for both meters.
Test strips are stored in special plastic vials that also contain a dessicant, which is a powder that removes moisture from the air. I have found that it is best to store the stock of extra test-strips in a well-tied plastic bag along with a small can of dessicant which is available at most large drugstores in the USA. The bag must remain closed tight between extractions of vials for use. When removing test strips from a vial, try to have the bottle open for less than half a minute. Some areas of Mexico are drier than others but only northern interior desert areas are truly dry. Parking at the seashore means dripping humidity sometimes and it takes very little moisture to alter the chemistry of test strips rendering them worse than useless. For that reason, I recommend "testing the accuracy of your test strips twice as often" as what your meter's instructions may indicate. It would be a good idea to store your extra glucose meter with the test strips and dessicant in the plastic bag.
Testing glucose meters, test strips, lancet tips (medium size) and lancet holders are now very commonly found in first class farmacias in Mexico. "One Touch" brand meters seem to be the most common. When purchasing test strips in Mexico be certain to check the expiration date on the box. One Touch meters sold in Mexico are made in China just like the US models. Test strips come from "The United Kingdom" just like US test strips. Prices in Mexico are close to or slightly more expensive than prices found in private US pharmacies.
VARIOUS NOTES AND TIPS
The medicine Glyburide is not found in Mexico nor is it listed in the Mexican pharmacopeia
GLIPTIZIDE is called Glibinclamida and is one of the very few sulfanyureas that are inexpensive in Mexico
Metformin is common, and dirt cheap in doses of 500 and 850 mg. Thousand mg. pills are not found.
Arcabos(a) is common and also dirt cheap.
Januvia 25mg, 50mg, and 100 mg. is found in first class farmacias and is priced about half that of the same medicine in the USA
Various classes of insulin are very commonly found as are decent syringes.
H1AC blood tests are called something different. Ask a Mexican MD for a prescription. Labs are extremely common and tests are cheap. Lab hygeine is strict so don't worry.
Rubbing alcohol and sterile cotton swabs are common and inexpensive in all classes of farmacias.
(Wild Card) Acetaminophen is known as Paracetamol everywhere in the world except the USA.
There are far fewer brands and flavors of diet sodas available in Mexico than in the USA. Almost all are sweetened by Aspartame. As of yet there are no sodas sweetened with Nutrasweet.
White sugar, powdered sugar, turbinado (light brown), dark brown, and piloncillo (almost black with molasses) sugars are found in larger supermarkets. I have found pure fructose fruit sugar in Soriana stores. Sugar free Aspartame and Nutrasweet are found boxed in individual envelopes.
Corn and corn products are normally a big no-no for diabetics. But tortillas made from corn meal are first soaked in a strong lime solution before drying and grinding. This neutralizes the latent sugars in the corn meal. Tortillas made from wheat flower are not a healthy food because of the huge amount of fat and oils.
Try to get in a half hour's worth of walking every day. Even this amount of excercise can plunge blood sugar levels up to sixty percent in some people. An hour's worth of fiddling around in a swimming pool or calm ocean can do the same thing.
IMPORTANT
Many US health providers offer a toll-free access number. It probably won't work in Mexico.
Obtain your health provider's non-toll-free number and stick it someplace safe
I shall look forward to your comments with regard to traveling in Mexico as a diabetic.