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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/bilbomyhomeboy on 2024-11-08 02:35:16+00:00.

Hi everyone,

I’m travelling from Canada, currently in Tokyo. I am going back home on Nov 12, but my glucose sensor/transmitter system broke and the backup for that system broke too. I have some extra backup blood sugar test strips, but only enough to last me 1-2 more days.

I’ve been to 3 drug stores and 1 actual pharmacy in Tokyo so far, and all have told me they don’t dispense blood sugar strips.

I am wondering if anyone has any advice on what to do next - I literally just need 20 more strips to get me back home to Toronto.

Thank you in advance, a worried glucose gal.

UPDATE: thanks everyone for your help!

For anyone curious, I use the closed loop Tandem T-Slim Control IQ system with Dexcom G6 normally. I took 3x the amount of Dexcom sensors but turns out those weren’t the problem after I replaced them 4 times. My transmitter stopped working, but I didn’t have a backup since my insurance pays for one 1x/90 days and I’ve never had it fail before.

I ended up talking to a really nice English speaking pharmacist (also helps that I myself am a pharmacist back home). Turns out that they basically don’t see any type 1 diabetes cases and barely dispense any diabetes devices since prevalence in Japan is so low.

The pharmacist here ended up speaking to an endocrinologist working in the same building, who told her that they only give Freestyle Libre devices to their patients and they’re booked far ahead for appointments. They also don’t have a way to order Dexcom - she’s never heard of it. She called around and found a pharmacy in Roppongi that sold me some Japanese brand meter and 30 strips in a set. They didn’t sell any Contour Next or Accu-Check or any other Western brand I’m familiar with. Overall, it cost me $150 CAD.

Life pro tip - take backups of literally everything, even if you think you don’t need it. I had backups of what I thought was prone to failure (even an extra pump!) but what failed wasn’t what I expected.