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TawtViet
Joined: 28 Aug 2004 Posts: 53
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Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 11:48 am Post subject: Medical Care Safety |
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I have been thinking quite awhile about coming to Thailand when suddenly I find I may have developed some diabetes. This is all new to me and I am to trying my best to eat right, exercise, etc. I only have some symptoms and haven't had a full check by a doctor. If I really have to go on insulin and other care would I have the resources to take care of myself well in Thailand? |
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Kent F. Kruhoeffer
Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国
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Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 11:58 am Post subject: |
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^ Absolutely no problem.
Luckily I haven't needed a doctor since arriving in Thailand 18 months ago,
but my friends tell me that the doctors & clinics here are very good.
And there's no shortage of pharmacies either, with lots of little corner drug stores
where the pharmacist gets to know you personally -
what you need, how much, how often you need it, etc.
Generic and brand-name medications are widely available
and practically all medications (including antibiotics) are available
without a prescription.
Here's a decent list of the major hospitals in Bangkok:
http://www.click4apartment.com/bkk_hospitals.asp |
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Henry_Cowell
Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley
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Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 6:32 pm Post subject: |
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Expats living throughout Asia (south, southeast, and even east) frequently come to Thailand because of the excellence of the medical care. It's just about the best. |
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tedkarma
Joined: 17 May 2004 Posts: 1598 Location: The World is my Oyster
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Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 8:41 am Post subject: |
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There is quite good quality medical care in Thailand. But, there is also some pretty poor care. Even the good care though, will cost you only a fraction of what you might pay in a western country.
For anything serious I go to Bumrungrad or Bangkok Hospitals - otherwise, I stay local with Bangkok-Phuket Hospital (on Phuket).
Henry is right - particularly at Bumrungrad - you'll see Arabs, Japanese, Indians - all in search of good care.
I have a page on Medical Care in Phuket that has links to the above mentioned hospitals at: http://phuketdelight.com/medical.htm
You'll also find medicine much cheaper - with some Thai generics super cheap.
Don't worry about it - you'll probably get better care here than there. Also the active life here and all the walking instead of driving - will get you in shape and put the bosh on the diabetes. (Okay, so I don't know ANYTHING about medicine . . .) |
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TawtViet
Joined: 28 Aug 2004 Posts: 53
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Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 11:24 am Post subject: Lost fear of leaving Japan |
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Thanks guys, that is great news. I am going a little crazy in Japan and really want to experience the land of smiles. I do feel so secure in Japan in regards to the (developed country's) medical care available. I have had quite a fear come over me with my somewhat of a health crisis but you took away my fear of venturing out. |
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joe beets
Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Posts: 37
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Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 12:11 pm Post subject: |
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joe beets, from another thread about a month or so ago wrote: |
I am a diabetic in Thailand. I know several others, Thai and westerner alike. The doctors are almost without exception well versed on the subject, as many have had some training in the west, and as a bonus they can also keep up with your English. Glucophage is plentiful and cheap.
I do have to be more watchful than the average guy in what I eat, as Thais like to put sugar in nearly everything. On top of that, the staple of the Thai diet is rice, which has a relatively high glycemic intake value. Still, it's doable, and I don't feel all that deprived of variety.
Exercize presents additional challenges, as it's so #&%ing hot all the time, but where there's a will there's a way.
If Thailand was on your list, diabetes is no reason to cross it off.
jb |
I thought that went pretty well.
Oh yeah, see a doctor. What are you waiting for? A cure? The sooner you start treating it the better.
Good luck.
jb |
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