| Republic of Korea | Thailand | Turkey | |
| Diabetes mellitus treatment with stem cells | from AUD $25,821 | from AUD $20,936 | from AUD $16,748 |
No hidden fees – just official clinic prices. Pay at the clinic for Type 1 Diabetes treatment and use a flexible instalment plan if needed.
Bookimed is committed to your safety. We only work with medical institutions that maintain high international standards in Type 1 Diabetes treatment and have the necessary licenses to serve international patients worldwide.
Bookimed offers free expert assistance. A personal medical coordinator supports you before, during, and after your treatment, solving any issues. You're never alone on your Type 1 Diabetes treatment journey.
Dr. Kim Yeonsun is an endocrinologist and Head of the Department of Endocrinology at Naeun Hospital. He treats diabetes, thyroid disease, metabolic syndrome, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, and other endocrine disorders.
He earned his medical degree from Seoul National University College of Medicine. He completed graduate training in internal medicine at Gachon University. He then trained as a clinical fellow in endocrinology at Samsung Medical Center.
He previously served as Head of Internal Medicine at Seoul Red Cross Hospital. He was also a professor of endocrinology and metabolism at Gachon University Gil Medical Center. He is a regular member of the Korean Endocrine Society and the Korean Diabetes Association.
Dr. Ugur Yasar is a general surgeon at CatchLife in Antalya. He focuses on obesity and metabolic surgery, cancer surgery, and thyroid procedures. Dr. Yasar was named Best Obesity Surgeon of the Year at the Altıntaç Awards. He also received the Most Successful General Surgeon of the Year prize.
Standard Type 1 Diabetes treatment in South Korea focuses on insulin therapy and advanced technology. Patients use multiple daily injections or automated insulin delivery pumps. Continuous Glucose Monitoring is the norm for maintaining strict glycaemic control. Care follows Korean Diabetes Association guidelines at specialised endocrinology centres.
Bookimed Expert Insight: South Korea is a leader in regenerative medicine for chronic conditions. Major university hospitals focus on traditional insulin protocols. Specialised centres like RE:YOUTH, however, focus on arterial stem cell therapy. This specific technique targets organ recovery. It is restricted to only 2 patients daily for high-level clinical attention.
Patient Consensus: Patients find insulin highly accessible at local internal medicine clinics. They recommend bringing a doctor letter from Australia. However, they note that local Continuous Glucose Monitoring systems are widely available.
Insulin pump and CGM use is growing in South Korea, particularly among children and adolescents. Government insurance covers 70% of costs for Type 1 Diabetes patients. Adoption rates reached 39.3% for youth by 2019. Adult uptake remains lower at under 10%.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While South Korea is a global hub for regenerative medicine, traditional diabetes tech adoption lags behind Western standards. Specialised clinics like RE:YOUTH now offer arterial stem cell therapy for chronic diseases. This highlights a shift towards biological treatments alongside standard insulin management for international patients.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that CGMs are easier to find than pumps, though brand choices remain limited. Travellers should bring backup supplies, as specific systems like Omnipod or Tandem are often unavailable locally.
Teplizumab is not currently approved for general use in South Korea. While the US FDA and European regulators have cleared the immunotherapy to delay Type 1 diabetes onset, the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has not yet issued similar widespread approval.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Pharmacological immunotherapy lags in Korea. However, the country leads in regenerative infrastructure. RE:YOUTH clinic treats around 1,000 patients a year using targeted arterial stem cell delivery. This suggests patients and families seeking alternatives focus on cellular therapies. They do this rather than waiting for regulatory cues for Western drug approvals.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that major hospitals are the only reliable source for newer diabetes drugs in South Korea. Access often requires documentation from a home endocrinologist. This helps secure treatment through specialist pathways rather than retail pharmacies.
Patients in South Korea should have HbA1c tests every three months for active management. This schedule aligns with the Korean Diabetes Association guidelines for those using insulin. Stable patients may move to twice-yearly testing. Hospitals often link these tests to three-month prescription cycles.
Bookimed Expert Insight: General hospitals like Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital manage standard care. However, specialised centres like RE:YOUTH focus on regenerative approaches. These clinics often limit daily intake to just two patients. In this high-touch environment, blood monitoring happens alongside tailored therapies like arterial stem cell infusions.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that quarterly testing is the practical standard in South Korea. This is due to medication refill limits. Many suggest booking annual labs for kidney and thyroid function separately. This provides a complete health check.
South Korean hospitals provide structured medical nutrition therapy for Type 1 Diabetes. This follows national clinical guidelines. Specialist dietitians deliver this care in tertiary centres like Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital. Programs focus on carbohydrate counting, food exchange systems, and managing insulin dosages. They are tailored specifically for Korean dietary habits.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While many search for standalone units, top-tier care is concentrated in large university hospitals. Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital, for example, maintains over 30 departments. It has served 15,000+ international patients. Accessing nutritional support through these major academic centres means a team of 130+ doctor-professors coordinates your diet. This coordination includes medical monitoring.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that standalone diet clinics are rare. So they advise booking through major hospital internal medicine departments. They found scanning local food labels helpful for carb counting. However, restaurant meals require more trial-and-error insulin adjustment in South Korea.
South Korean hospitals treat diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) using intensive intravenous fluids, insulin infusions, and electrolyte replacement. Treatment adheres to 2025 Clinical Practice Guidelines for Diabetes Management. Major centres like Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital provide 24-hour emergency care and monitoring for international patients.
Bookimed Expert Insight: South Korea has a high volume of DKA cases linked to SGLT2 inhibitors. Clinics like RE:YOUTH's partnership with Yonsei BH show the country's focus on chronic management standards. Hospitals here are uniquely equipped for euglycaemic DKA. In this condition, glucose levels appear almost normal despite severe acidosis.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that DKA hospital stays in South Korea often last several days. This time is used for dose adjustments. Those travelling emphasise checking blood sugar two hours after every meal. They also stress seeking emergency help if vomiting starts.
Insulin is a prescription-only medication in South Korea. Pharmacies cannot dispense it without a valid Korean prescription. Foreign prescriptions are not accepted. Visitors must first visit a local clinic or hospital. They can then obtain a valid script from a Korean doctor.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Chronic disease management in Korea often goes beyond standard prescriptions. Major centres like Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital serve 15,000+ international patients with standard care. However, specialised clinics like RE:YOUTH treat diabetes with direct arterial stem cell infusions. This high-tech focus means that common insulin brands are widely available. Pharmacies nearby stock brands like Humalog or Lantus.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that getting a script at a local internal medicine clinic is straightforward. They suggest heading to central Seoul pharmacies. These pharmacies have the best stock of specific international brands.