Insulin analogs 胰岛素类似物

[zhwj]

When I was diagnosed with diabetes at the Chaoyang Hospital in Beijing, the endocrinologist prescribed Novolin 诺和灵 (R and N), a human insulin.

Now that I'm in the US for a spell (visa issues...), the doctor here has switched me to insulin analogs. I'm wondering whether it's available back in China - I've found listings in online pharmacies, but I don't have any experience ordering from them so I'm not sure if I trust that information

- Novolog (aka NovoRapid) 诺和锐, insulin aspart 门冬胰岛素, is on yaofang.cn

- Lantus 来得时, insulin glargine 甘精胰岛素, is on yaofang.cn

Are these medications readily available in China? Or any other analog, like lispro (赖脯胰岛素, trade name Humalog) and detemir (地特胰岛素 trade name Levemir)? I'd like to be able to fill prescriptions locally rather than having to import stuff (for convenience and also to protect my wallet).

[studentyoung]

Are these medications readily available in China? Or any other analog, like lispro (赖脯胰岛素, trade name Humalog) and detemir (地特胰岛素 trade name Levemir)? I'd like to be able to fill prescriptions locally rather than having to import stuff (for convenience and also to protect my wallet).

赖脯胰岛素can be found locally, but it seems that地特胰岛素 is just import stuff.

http://www.chinafmn.com/cp_show.asp?id=30470

I'm wondering whether it's available back in China - I've found listings in online pharmacies, but I don't have any experience ordering from them so I'm not sure if I trust that information

Perhaps you can consult with other Chinese diabetes patients on their forums. I think they can offer you more useful advice.

http://bbs.tnbz.com/ (甜蜜家园)

http://www.baidu.com/s?ie=gb2312&bs=www.yahoo.com&sr=&z=&cl=3&f=8&wd=%CC%C7%D3%D1%C2%DB%CC%B3&ct=0 （more similar forums）

But I think you can still ask your doctor to prescribe you some 国产降糖药 with reasonable prices and high quality, when you are in Beijing.

Anyway, good luck Zhwj!

Cheers!

[Lauriane]

Hey,

I have diabetes myself and using Humalog and Lantus daily.

They are available in China (for Shanghai, go to the Worldlink with your prescription, a chinsese doctor will reissue it and then go to the pharmacy of the hospital. And they are giving you icepacks for the transport).

For Beijing I don't know now, but it might be the same.

Be carefull about prices, and check with your insurance how they are refunding you: insulin is imported, so can be 3 or 4 times the usual price.

Good luck !

[zhwj]

Thanks for the tips. There seem to be people with similar questions in the Chinese-language diabetes forums that I've found, but little specific information.

It's good to know that at least the international hospitals have it. I've managed to source it to one or two Chinese hospitals in Beijing; hopefully my endocrinologist will be able to transfer a prescription if it turns out that Chaoyang doesn't provide it.