Diabetes: care and support groups
Over 100 groups exist around France
People with diabetes living in France can benefit from a network of more than 100 support groups around the country under the umbrella of the Fédération Française des Diabétiques (FFD).
Spokeswoman Delphine Dorier said: “We advise getting in touch with your local association for help. We also have an initiative called Dynamisation qualité de vie diabète, which trains volunteers from some of these groups.
“It helps them to organise small group meetings and one-to-one support to help people accept their condition and better manage daily life.”
Groups can offer advice to people in their areas who have, or think they have, the condition. A member for one group in Charente-Maritime said they hold regular meetings and organise demonstrations and tests in hospitals.
One aspect that can be confusing for English-speakers with diabetes coming to France is the units used to measure blood glucose levels. English-speakers will be more familiar with millimoles per litre (mmol/l), whereas French results are more commonly given in grams per litre.
For example, a person is considered at risk of diabetes if they have a fasting glucose level of 1.26 g/l. This corresponds to 7 mmol/l. To convert from g/l to mmol/l, multiply by 5.5, and to convert from mmol/l to g/l, multiply by 0.18.
Diabetes medicines and treatment are reimbursed at 100% as diabetes is an affection longue durée (ALD).
This includes care for any complications resulting from it and also includes insulin pumps (one every four years under a rental agreement), which may be used to replace multiple daily injections.
The FFD recommends these for those whose health condition warrants one and believes that many people have not been equipped who could benefit. It has a dedicated site about them.
If you are diabetic, it is advisable to also ask your GP for referral to a diabétologue, who can make sure you get exactly the right treatment for your individual case. The support groups can advise on ones in your area.
To contact the Fédération Française des Diabétiques, see its website. For details of your local branch, click on: Je contacte mon asso locale.