I am insulin-dependent. I use an insulin pen.
in-su-li-no di-pen-DEN-te — six syllables total. 'Dipendente' = dependent.
Inform any healthcare provider, including during hospital admission, dental treatment, or surgery planning.
'Insulino-dipendente' = insulin-dependent (type 1 diabetes or insulin-treated type 2). 'Penna per l'insulina' = insulin pen device. In Italy, insulin-dependent patients receive insulin, needles, testing strips, and glucose meters free from the SSN with a 'piano terapeutico' from a diabetologist. Hospitalisation requires continued insulin management.
Devo monitorare la glicemia ogni quattro ore.
I need to monitor my blood sugar every four hours.
Frequency of monitoring — hospital staff must facilitate this
Se mi trovate svenuto, potrebbe essere un'ipoglicemia.
If you find me unconscious, it could be hypoglycaemia.
Important emergency information — instruct companions and wear a medical ID bracelet
Ho il glucagone con me. Serve per le ipoglicemie gravi.
I have glucagon with me. It is for severe hypoglycaemia.
Glucagon auto-injector — carried by type 1 diabetics for severe low blood sugar
Type 1 diabetes ('diabete di tipo 1') in Italy is managed by specialist 'centri diabetologici' (diabetes centres) within public hospitals. Children with type 1 have full SSN support including CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) devices from age 0. Italian law protects the rights of diabetic children at school — they must have access to insulin and glucose tests. The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation ('FDG') is the main Italian patient advocacy organisation.