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Managing diabetes while travelling in Istanbul comes down to four things: pack twice the supplies you need in your hand luggage, protect insulin from heat, check your blood sugar more often on long walking days, and have a sick-day plan agreed with your diabetes team. Severe hypos or signs of ketoacidosis need 112.
Before you go: talk to your diabetes team
A short conversation before the trip prevents most problems. Ask your diabetes team about:
- Adjusting insulin or medicine timing for the time change (Istanbul is three hours ahead of GMT all year)
- What to do on sick days, including when to check ketones if you have type 1 diabetes
- A letter listing your diagnosis, medicines by generic name, and devices such as pens, pumps, sensors and needles
UK government travel advice says British prescriptions are not accepted in Turkish pharmacies, so bring everything you need from home.
Packing supplies
- Bring double: pack at least twice the insulin, tablets, test strips, needles and sensors you expect to use.
- Hand luggage only: insulin can freeze in the hold, and checked bags can go missing. Split supplies between two bags if you travel with someone.
- Original packaging and the letter help at security and customs.
- Hypo treatment: carry fast-acting glucose and snacks at all times, including on the plane and during tours.
- Medical ID: a bracelet or card saying you have diabetes helps if you are ever unwell and unable to explain.
Our guide to bringing medicines into Turkey covers customs and paperwork.
Heat, walking and insulin
Istanbul's summers are hot and humid, and sightseeing means a lot of walking, often up steep hills. Both affect blood sugar.
- Heat can speed up insulin absorption and increase the risk of hypos. It can also damage insulin. Keep insulin out of direct sun and away from hot cars; use a cooling wallet when out, and ask your hotel for a fridge.
- Walking lowers blood sugar, sometimes hours later. Check more often on active days and before bed.
- Dehydration pushes blood sugar up. Drink water regularly; see heat and dehydration during an Istanbul summer.
- Sensors and pumps can lose adhesion in heat and sweat. Bring spares and extra adhesive.
Turkish food and mealtimes
Turkish cuisine is a pleasure, and you do not need to avoid it. Be aware of a few patterns:
- Bread is served with almost every meal, and rice and bulgur are common sides.
- Desserts such as baklava and many pastries are very sweet.
- Tea (çay) is often served with sugar cubes on the side; take it without.
- Dinners can be late, which affects timing for some insulin regimes.
Grilled meat and fish, vegetable dishes cooked in olive oil, salads, lentil soup and yoghurt are easy choices. Ask for dishes without sugar where needed; "şekersiz" means without sugar.
Look after your feet
Long walking days on cobblestones can cause blisters, and people with diabetes may not feel them early. Wear comfortable, worn-in shoes, check your feet every evening, and get any cut, blister or redness looked at early rather than waiting until you are home.
Alcohol and nights out
Alcohol can lower blood sugar for many hours, including overnight, and the signs of a hypo can be mistaken for being drunk. If you drink, eat at the same time, check your blood sugar before bed, have a snack if your plan suggests one, and make sure a companion knows you have diabetes and how to help. Rakı and wine with a long meze dinner are a classic Istanbul evening; enjoy them with food and water alongside.
Fasting periods and Ramadan
During Ramadan many restaurants stay open, but some people around you will be fasting, and meal rhythms in the city change, with busy evening iftar meals. If you plan to fast for religious reasons, discuss it with your diabetes team well before the trip, as fasting with diabetes needs a specific plan and is not safe for everyone.
Useful words
- Şeker hastasıyım: I have diabetes
- Kan şekerim düştü: my blood sugar is low
- İnsülin: insulin
- Şekersiz: without sugar
Telling your travel companions
Make sure at least one person you travel with knows you have diabetes, where you keep your hypo treatment and glucagon if you carry it, and when to call 112. A short note on your phone's lock screen helps if you are ever unable to explain.
Sick days away from home
Illness, such as a stomach bug or flu, often raises blood sugar even if you are not eating. Follow the sick-day rules from your diabetes team: keep taking insulin unless told otherwise, check sugar more often, keep drinking, and check ketones if you have type 1 diabetes.
If you cannot keep fluids down, or your sugar stays high despite your plan, get help early. A doctor visit at your hotel can assess you, and blood tests at your hotel can be arranged if a doctor requests them.
Warning signs that need urgent help
Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately for:
- A severe hypo: confusion, inability to swallow safely, a seizure or unconsciousness
- Signs of diabetic ketoacidosis: vomiting, stomach pain, deep or rapid breathing, a fruity smell on the breath, drowsiness, with high blood sugar or ketones
- Very high blood sugar with confusion or extreme thirst and dehydration
- Chest pain or signs of a stroke
Related Services
- Hotel Doctor in Istanbul — an examination at your hotel, Airbnb or residence.
- Blood Test at Your Hotel — tests when a doctor requests them.
- Health Monitoring Devices — monitoring devices delivered to your accommodation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I take insulin on a plane to Turkey?
- Yes. Keep it in your hand luggage, in its original packaging, with a letter from your diabetes team. Never pack it in the hold.
- How do I keep insulin cool in Istanbul in summer?
- Use a cooling wallet when out, keep insulin out of direct sun and hot cars, and ask your hotel for a fridge.
- What should I do if I run out of insulin in Istanbul?
- See a doctor the same day. British prescriptions are not accepted in Turkish pharmacies, so a doctor here must assess you and decide on a local prescription.
- What are the danger signs for someone with diabetes abroad?
- Confusion, a seizure or unconsciousness from a hypo, or vomiting, stomach pain and rapid breathing with high sugar. Call 112.
If your blood sugar is behaving unusually during your trip, send a WhatsApp message with your readings, symptoms and where you are staying.