The UK side

Your address is used for a lot more than just as a roof over your head in the UK. Tenancy agreement or bills, such as council tax or gas & electricity bills, addressed to you in your UK address is part of the verification that you are eligible for NHS and GP registration.

Speaking from experience - do not rent a place that you have not physically visited. If You cannot inspect it in person, ask someone you know and trust - be it a friend, University Student Reps, or work colleagues - to do it for you.

Get a +44 phone number as soon as you enter your front door in the UK. You will struggle enormously without one, and luckily this is an easy step.

Just sign up for a "pay-as-you-go" at any of the standard operators in the UK (O2, giffgaff, Three, Vodaphone, etc.) and order your SIM card.

To open a bank account you need the following:

• Proof of identity (e.g. Valid passport or EU photocard driving licence)
• Proof of UK address (e.g. bank statement, gas or electricity bill etc. - dated within the last three months -)

More detailed information found here.

This section is of course the most important. I have done my best to summarise my learnings in a few points.

If you want to learn more about my experience you can read it on the About Me section.

1. Reach out to a local General Practitioner (GP) and ask to register at the practice. Most likely, they will direct you to an online form or come in to fill out a paper form.

To register, you will need to provide the following:

• Proof of UK address in the vicinity of the GP (same as signing up for a bank account)
• UK phone number
• Medical history and immunisations
• If you are a student, fill in the name of the college or institution, course, and when the course finishes

2. Make an appointment as quickly as possible once confirmed as registered to initiate process of being able to access medical supplies and Diabetes care. They asked me to send photos of my gear in their original packages.

!Stress the importance of making an appoinment with Diabetes Team at a hospital in your vicinity given the limited stock that you could pack with you from Sweden!

3. Fill out and hand in the "Prescription Charge Exemption Form" to access things like insulin from pharmacies for free.

4. I was asked to come into the GP to provide a urine and blood sample (to give the blood sample I was referred to another clinic).

5. Make an appointment with the GP Pharmacist in order to access your diabetes gear.

At this stage of my process, the GP realised they had made a mistake by not referring me to a Diabetes Team at a local hospital. That is because equipment like my insulin pump and Dexcom G6 sensor is not something that the GP manage, discuss, or make sure that you get access to. This is the Diabetes Team's duty.

As such, you need emphasise that THEY need to book you an appointment at a hospital that has a Diabetes Team ASAP

Below are a few links to various website regarding diabetic equipment in the UK. Some of it may seem discouraging, but I believe the NHS's conservative stance on who can get equipment like CGMs and insulin pumps is changing. Especially if you move to the UK already on these systems. Nevertheless, it is good to be aware of the information linked here:

Who should qualify for insulin pump and CGMs?