The French Connection
Everyone who has ever taken an insulin injection (or who uses an insulin pump as I do) knows that you don't go anywhere without your insulin ... especially to Europe! Although I am embarrassed to tell you, that is exactly what I did.
After two glorious days in Paris, I was about to celebrate my birthday when the reality hit me that I had not packed my travel kit which contained the insulin. I was in shock and so was my wife who at that moment wished she was traveling alone. After our tempers cooled, I remembered the Medtronic Diabetes Newsletter in my suitcase and the article about traveling in Europe. The next day I called the Medtronic Diabetes office in Paris and told them my problem. We were invited to the office where I met the rest of the staff. They were so helpful and understanding.
As a pump user, it is great to know Medtronic Diabetes has offices in major European cities, and what's even better is that the Medtronic Diabetes people really do care about their customers...especially when one of them forgets his insulin. I am deeply grateful to everyone at the Medtronic Diabetes Paris office for being there for me when I really needed some help.
As for my birthday, I found an all-night pharmacy and we also discovered a great restaurant... had a wonderful midnight supper, went dancing...a fabulous birthday after all!
Fred Wolinsky, C.P.A., West Los Angeles
Diabetes since 1961, pump since 1991
If you're planning an international trip, please print out and take with you, the list of Medtronic Diabetes's World Sales Offices. Ready assistance is available in many countries, should you need it.
