Q20: Can I Get Insulin in Bodrum?
Q20: I am diabetic and would like to spend more time at our villa this year. In the UK I can only get my insulin on a monthly basis due to the shelf life. Is there any where I can get insulin in the Bodrum area, other than flying home every month to pick up supplies?
A20.1: I presume you are using insulin injections. Simply tell the name of your medicine (e.g. Lantus, Novorapid) to any pharmacy over here, and they will be able to help. If you are using pills, they may not be available under the same name; I would suggest that you consult a doctor to be sure - it's likely it's available here under another name, or will have a direct equivalent. In Özel Bodrum hospital there is an endocrinologist who speaks English, if you should need any assistance. -- Deniz (Özel Bodrum Hastanesi)
A20.2: Simply call the Universal Hospital and ask for Becky, who will be able to help. -- Stephanie
A20.3: I have been Diabetic for over 35 years and also have a villa (Yalikavak) which means I'm there quite often. Not sure what insulin you use but sure that you are mistaken about shelf life of the product. All human insulin's have a good shelf life (up to 3 years) and only need to be kept cool in the fridge, not freezer, to maintain stability. All the insulin's we use in the UK are available in Turkey, which has a very good pharmacy network. All you need to do is talk to the pharmacist and explain that you need the insulin for you, take the old packaging. Everything else to do with Diabetes is available too, just ask. Check out some of the herbal remedies available, many Turkish people seem to know a lot more about this condition than we do in many cases. -- Alec Renwick