created: 30.09.2004
last modified: 30.09.2004
Apart from the "normal" preparations that you have to make before going abroad, like making sure you've got an extra injection pen, or supply parts for your insulin pump just in case something gets broken, there are a few things about the German health care system you should know about.
First of all you will need a health care insurance certificate that is valid for Germany. If you're not from the European Union, it might be the case that you will first have to pay the doctor's bill and claim the money back from your insurance company once you've returned home. Your health care insurance company will inform you on these matters.
The next important thing you need to know is, when you're consulting a doctor for the first time within the current quarter year you will have to pay a fee of 10 Euros. This fee is valid for your visits to General Practitioners and specialists except dentists. At the dentists you will have to pay another fee of also 10 Euros, also valid for the current quarter year. This is based on a recent law reform and also counts for foreigners on holidays or people from abroad, working in Germany.
Where do I get insulin?
You will be able to purchase the insulin that you need at the local pharmacy (Ger.: "Apotheke") if you can provide a prescription. You can easily recognise pharmacies by the sign shown on top of this page.
Note that on the door sign of the pharmacy you will find their business hours and the information about night- or emergency duties. The various pharmacies in German towns or cities share the night and emergency duty on the basis of a daily rota. The sign next to the business hours will tell you which pharmacy is on night or emergency duty outside the business hours. Always carry a map, unless you're familiar enough with the place you're at, so you will be able to find the pharmacy you need.
What kind of doctor will be able to help me if I have problems with my diabetes?
Basically every General Practitioner will be able to give you advice, but it's a good idea to consult an internist or even better a Diabetologist. In Germany these doctors call themselves "Diabetologe". You can always look them up in the local yellow pages or ask any doctor or at the local pharmacy.
Other specialists like Foot Nurses (Ger.: Fusspfleger/in), Psychiatrists (Ger.: Psychiater / Psychologe) or Cardiologists (Ger.: Kardiologe) will be able to perfectly help you with whatever problem might occur in connection with your diabetes.
In our service area we're providing a list of diabetes specialists who understand and speak English, although it shouldn't be too much of a problem these days to get along with English in Germany.
