Traveling to Paris with diabetes requires an extra layer of planning that most travel guides never mention.
You’re not only deciding where to stay, which museums to visit, or how many croissants you can reasonably eat in one trip. Or whether you can actually have one at all. You may also be wondering where the closest pharmacy is, how you would replace lost insulin or medication, whether your hotel can safely refrigerate it, and where you could find medical care if something went wrong.
This guide was inspired by my mother-in-law, who has Type 1 diabetes. During a conversation about traveling, she explained how much additional research goes into every trip—research that travelers without a medical condition may never have to consider.
That made me realize something: recommending a conveniently located Paris hotel should mean more than being able to walk to the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, or a café you’ve been dreaming about for months. For some travelers, it also means knowing that a pharmacy, medical care, a grocery store, and a dependable source of help are nearby.
In this guide, I’ve gathered practical information for travelers managing diabetes in Paris, including:
- Pharmacies near my recommended Paris hotels
- How to find medical help at night or on weekends
- Emergency and non-emergency medical information
- Information to have available if medication or supplies are lost
- What to know if you can’t find your exact CGM, pump supplies, or insulin
- Questions to ask hotels about insulin refrigeration
- Restaurant features that may make meals easier to manage
- Paris mealtimes and grocery-store information
- Airport-security information for CGMs and insulin pumps
- Helpful French words and phrases
Although this guide was inspired by someone with Type 1 diabetes, much of the information can also help travelers with Type 2 diabetes, including those who use insulin, oral medication, glucose meters, continuous glucose monitors, or insulin pumps.
This guide is not a substitute for advice from your own diabetes-care team. Use it as a starting point for planning, and always verify pharmacy hours, medical services, medication availability, airport procedures, and hotel amenities before your trip.
If you’re looking for additional destinations, check out my other traveling with diabetes destination guides.
Diabetes & Medical Help in Paris
Save these numbers before your trip so you know exactly where to turn if you need help.
Tourist Medical Care in Paris
- Medical emergency / SAMU: 15
- European emergency number: 112
- SOS Médecins Grand Paris: 01 47 07 77 77
- Urgences Médicales de Paris: 01 53 94 94 94
The City of Paris recommends 15 when you need emergency medical assistance or need to be directed to an on-call doctor in the evening or on weekends. 112 is the European emergency number and can also be used for emergencies in France.
For a Serious Medical Emergency: Call 15 or 112
In France, 15 connects you with SAMU, the emergency medical service.
If you have a serious or potentially life-threatening medical problem, call 15. You can also call 112, the European emergency number.
For someone traveling with diabetes, I would save both numbers in your phone before leaving home rather than assuming you’ll remember them when you need them.
If the situation is serious, don’t spend time searching Google for an English-speaking doctor or trying to determine which Paris hospital you should go to first. Call for emergency assistance.
For Medical Help That Isn’t a Life-Threatening Emergency
This is where Paris gives travelers several options.
The City of Paris says there are alternatives to going directly to a hospital emergency department when your regular doctor isn’t available. During the day, you can seek a local medical consultation, and a pharmacist may also be able to help direct you to appropriate care.
Paris also has doctors who provide after-hours consultations and home visits, which could be particularly useful when you’re staying in a hotel.
One of the largest services is SOS Médecins Grand Paris.
SOS Médecins Grand Paris: 01 47 07 77 77
SOS Médecins provides medical home visits throughout Paris and much of the surrounding area 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It also operates medical consultation centers in several Paris arrondissements.
That could be useful if you become sick, need medical advice, or need help with a prescription or medication issue that doesn’t require an ambulance.
Medical Care at Night or on Weekends
This is one Paris-specific detail I’d definitely include.
The City of Paris advises calling 15 in the evening or on weekends when you need to be directed to an on-call doctor, obtain medical advice, arrange a home visit, or have an urgent medical concern.
Another option is SOS Médecins, which operates around the clock and can arrange home visits. Their Paris medical centers also provide appointments during evenings, weekends and holidays.
So if something happens at 10:00 p.m., you aren’t necessarily left choosing between waiting until morning and heading straight to a hospital emergency department.
If You Need a Doctor at Your Hotel
If you’re staying at a hotel, ask the front desk or concierge for help. They may be able to contact a doctor, help explain where you need to go, or assist with language if necessary.
You can also contact SOS Médecins directly. Their doctors make home visits throughout Paris, meaning a doctor may be able to come to your hotel rather than requiring you to travel across the city when you’re sick.
If you’re calling about diabetes medication or supplies, have your medication list, prescription information, exact device information, and identification ready.
One More Thing for American Travelers
Don’t assume that medical care in France will automatically be free because you’re visiting from the United States.
Before your trip, check what your health insurance covers outside the U.S. and whether your travel insurance includes medical expenses.
I’d keep your insurance information in the same place as:
- Your medication list
- Copies of prescriptions
- Your doctor’s contact information
- Your CGM or pump manufacturer/model information
- Your passport information
- Your travel-insurance medical-assistance number
And keep receipts and paperwork if you pay for medical care or medication during the trip. You may need them to request reimbursement later.
Save These Before Your Trip
15 — SAMU / emergency medical assistance
112 — European emergency number
01 47 07 77 77 — SOS Médecins Grand Paris, including 24/7 home visits
01 53 94 94 94 — Urgences Médicales de Paris, another service listed by the City of Paris for medical consultations/home visits
Your travel-insurance medical-assistance number
Your hotel’s front desk/concierge number
Your diabetes-care team’s contact information
Before relying on any number during your trip, save it in your phone and make sure you’ll be able to place calls in France.
Quick Navigation
Before Traveling to France With Diabetes
The goal isn’t to plan for every possible thing that could go wrong. It’s to answer the important questions before you leave so you aren’t trying to solve them while standing in a Paris pharmacy—or after realizing an essential supply is missing.
Before traveling to Paris, talk with your diabetes-care team about your plans, particularly if you’ll be crossing several time zones. Ask about medication timing, insulin adjustments, managing highs and lows during travel, and what to do if your normal eating or activity schedule changes.
France’s national health-insurance guidance specifically recommends planning diabetes travel in advance and discussing longer or international trips with your doctor or diabetes specialist. It also notes that changes in mealtimes, eating habits, physical activity and time zones can affect diabetes management.
And Paris can mean a lot of walking. It’s very easy for a day that looks reasonable on a map to turn into miles of walking between Metro stations, museums, neighborhoods and restaurants.
That’s something I’d discuss with your diabetes-care team before the trip rather than waiting to see how your usual routine handles it.
Diabetes Travel Checklist
Before your trip, consider bringing:
- More medication and diabetes supplies than you expect to use
- Insulin, oral medication and essential supplies in your carry-on
- A current prescription
- A written medication list using both brand names and generic/active-ingredient names
- A letter from your healthcare provider explaining your diagnosis, medications and medical devices
- Your clinician’s contact information
- Travel-insurance information
- A medical identification card or bracelet
- Backup glucose-testing supplies
- Extra CGM sensors, pump supplies, batteries and charging cables
- Whatever you normally use to manage low blood glucose
- An appropriate insulin travel/storage case if needed
- Exact manufacturer and model information for your CGM or insulin pump
France’s official diabetes guidance recommends bringing enough medication and supplies for the entire trip plus extra for unexpected problems, along with a current prescription and necessary diabetes equipment. It also recommends having the medication’s international nonproprietary/generic name on the prescription when traveling internationally.
French health guidance also recommends keeping regular medication in its original packaging and carrying documentation for injectable medication and necessary needles or syringes.
My Practical Advice
I’d create one diabetes-information folder on your phone before leaving home.
Put your medication list, prescriptions, doctor’s letter, insurance information, emergency contacts, device information, photographs of medication labels and supplies, and the Paris medical numbers we saved earlier in that folder.
I’d keep a printed copy of the most important information somewhere separate too.
And take pictures of your medication packaging, CGM and pump model information before you leave.
It feels like overkill when everything is going according to plan.
It feels considerably less like overkill when something disappears.
Bringing Diabetes Medication Into France
You can bring medication into France for your own personal use, but there are rules about how much you can carry and when documentation is required.
French Customs says the amount of ordinary medication you bring should correspond to your personal treatment needs. If you have a prescription, that generally means the amount needed for the treatment period shown on the prescription. Without a prescription, the general limit is up to three months of treatment.
For a trip to Paris with diabetes, I would still bring considerably more documentation than you’re likely to be asked to show.
Bring Your Prescription and Medical Documentation
France’s national health-insurance guidance specifically recommends that international travelers with diabetes carry a current prescription and suggests asking your doctor to include the medication’s international nonproprietary name, called the DCI in France. That’s essentially the internationally recognized name of the active ingredient rather than relying only on a U.S. brand name.
I would bring:
- Your current prescription
- A letter from your healthcare provider
- The brand name of each medication
- The generic/active-ingredient name or DCI
- Medication strength and usual dosage
- Enough medication for the trip plus extra
- Documentation explaining any needles, syringes, insulin pens, CGM or pump equipment you carry
That last piece can make airport and customs questions considerably easier.
Keep Medication in Its Original Packaging
Keep insulin and other prescription medication in the original pharmacy-labeled packaging whenever possible.
Besides making it easier to show that the medication belongs to you, the packaging gives a French pharmacist or doctor useful information if something is lost or needs to be replaced.
France’s national health-insurance guidance also recommends keeping regular medications in their original packaging while traveling.
I wouldn’t rely entirely on a pill organizer or unlabeled containers.
They’re convenient at the hotel.
They’re much less convenient when you’re trying to explain to a pharmacist in Paris exactly what you’ve been taking.
Know the Generic Name of Everything You Take
This is especially important when traveling internationally.
The brand name you use in the United States may not be the name a French pharmacist recognizes.
France uses the term DCI — dénomination commune internationale for the internationally recognized name of a medication’s active ingredient. French health guidance specifically recommends having the DCI included on prescriptions for international travel because brand names can differ between countries.
Before leaving home, write down:
- Brand name
- Generic/active-ingredient name
- Medication strength
- Dosage
- Manufacturer, if relevant
- Exact CGM or pump manufacturer and model
That list becomes even more important if something goes missing.
How Much Medication Can You Bring Into France?
For ordinary medications that aren’t classified as narcotic or psychotropic medicines, French Customs says the amount carried for personal use should correspond to the duration of treatment shown on your prescription. Without a prescription, the general allowance is up to three months of treatment.
If the prescribed treatment period exceeds three months, French Customs says you must be able to present the prescription.
For a normal vacation, this shouldn’t mean packing exactly the number of doses you’ll need.
France’s own diabetes travel guidance recommends carrying more diabetes medication and supplies than you expect to use so you’re prepared for unexpected problems.
Pack More Than You Expect to Need
Bring enough medication and diabetes supplies for the entire trip plus extra.
Flights get canceled.
Sensors fail.
Things get lost.
Plans change.
And Paris is not where I’d want to discover that I packed exactly ten days of insulin for a ten-day trip.
French diabetes guidance actually recommends bringing extra medication and supplies for unexpected circumstances.
Check Every Other Medication Too
This is an important one.
Don’t assume the rules for your diabetes medication automatically apply to everything else in your medicine bag.
France has additional requirements for medications classified as narcotic or psychotropic medicines. For someone entering France from outside the Schengen Area, French Customs says these medicines must be carried personally and an original valid prescription is required. Different quantity limits and documentation requirements can apply.
So before your trip, check every prescription medication you’re bringing, not just insulin or other diabetes medication.
Carry Essential Diabetes Medication With You
I would keep insulin, diabetes medication and the supplies you can’t easily replace in your carry-on luggage.
Don’t put your entire supply in a checked suitcase.
I’d also split backup supplies between carry-ons when you’re traveling with someone you trust, where practical. That way one missing bag doesn’t necessarily mean everything disappears with it.
And keep your prescription and medical documentation somewhere you can reach easily rather than buried at the bottom of your suitcase.
Traveling With Needles, CGMs and Pumps
If you use insulin pens, syringes, lancets, a CGM or an insulin pump, keep the supporting medical information with your medication and supplies.
France’s diabetes travel guidance recommends having a medical certificate explaining the equipment that’s essential for your health when traveling internationally.
For your flight from the United States, follow current U.S. airport-security requirements and your device manufacturer’s instructions.
For the trip home, you’ll be dealing with French airport security, which we’ll cover separately because CGM and pump manufacturers can have different instructions about scanners and X-ray equipment.
What to Do if Insulin, Medication or Diabetes Supplies Are Lost in Paris?
Losing insulin, medication, or diabetes supplies while traveling is stressful, but being in Paris means you have access to a large network of pharmacies and medical services.
The important thing to know is that replacing a prescription medication in France may not be as simple as showing a U.S. prescription at the pharmacy and receiving the exact same product. France has specific rules for dispensing medicines from foreign prescriptions, and the medication or brand you use at home may not be marketed under the same name—or may not be available at all—in France. French health authorities provide separate professional guidance for prescriptions issued outside the European Union.
Start With a Pharmacy
If medication or supplies go missing, I would make a pharmacy your first stop unless the situation is medically urgent.
Bring as much information as you have:
- Your prescription
- The original medication packaging or a photograph of it
- The medication’s generic/active-ingredient name
- Strength and dosage
- Your doctor’s letter and contact information
- Passport or other identification
- Exact CGM or pump manufacturer and model
- Photographs of any supplies you need to replace
Even if the pharmacist cannot dispense what you need immediately, they can help determine whether the product is available in France and whether you’ll need to see a French doctor for a new prescription.
This is one reason France’s national health-insurance guidance recommends traveling with a medical summary for chronic conditions and a prescription listing medications by their internationally recognized active-ingredient names.
Don’t Assume Your U.S. Prescription Will Work Like a French Prescription
This distinction is important for American travelers.
Prescriptions written by healthcare professionals within the EU have specific cross-border recognition rules. France handles prescriptions originating outside the European Union differently, and pharmacists have professional guidance for determining whether medication can be dispensed from them.
So I wouldn’t tell travelers:
“Just bring your American prescription and a Paris pharmacy can refill it.”
Instead, bring the prescription because it provides extremely useful documentation, but be prepared for the pharmacist to tell you that you need a prescription from a doctor in France.
If You Need a French Doctor
If the pharmacy tells you that you need a new prescription, use the medical-care options we covered earlier.
Your hotel can help you locate a doctor, and SOS Médecins Grand Paris can arrange medical consultations, including home/hotel visits.
If you’re staying in a hotel, I’d involve the front desk or concierge. This is exactly the sort of situation where having someone who speaks French and knows the local healthcare system can make things easier.
What if Your Exact Insulin Isn’t Available?
Don’t try to choose a substitute insulin yourself.
Brand names and available formulations can differ between countries. If your normal insulin isn’t available, show the pharmacist or doctor the exact product, active ingredient, concentration and dosing information you use at home.
A French doctor or pharmacist can then determine what appropriate options are available locally.
This is one of the reasons I strongly recommend taking a photograph of the box and label of every medication before leaving home, rather than simply writing “insulin” on your travel medication list.
What if You Can’t Find Your Exact CGM or Pump Supplies?
This deserves its own section because replacing diabetes technology can be harder than finding a pharmacy.
Don’t assume a Paris pharmacy will stock the exact sensor, transmitter, infusion set, reservoir or other component you use.
Before your trip, save:
- Manufacturer
- Exact device/model
- Sensor type
- Pump model
- Supply/product numbers if available
- Manufacturer’s international customer-service information
- Your diabetes-care team’s contact information
If something fails or disappears in Paris, contact the manufacturer first to find out whether your particular product is distributed in France and how replacement supplies are handled there.
If the exact product isn’t available, contact your diabetes-care team for guidance rather than improvising with an unfamiliar device or supply.
This is also why bringing more CGM sensors, pump supplies and backup glucose-testing equipment than you expect to use is worth the suitcase space. French national health guidance recommends travelers with chronic conditions bring enough medication for the trip plus extra in case their return is delayed.
If Everything Is Gone
If your bag containing diabetes supplies is stolen or lost, don’t spend hours trying to solve everything yourself.
I’d work through it in this order:
- Pharmacy — determine what can be obtained locally.
- Your diabetes-care team — contact them for medical guidance and documentation.
- Device manufacturer — for CGM/pump replacement options in France.
- French doctor — if a local prescription or medical assessment is necessary.
- Travel insurance — contact the medical-assistance line if your policy provides one and keep receipts and documentation for any expenses.
If you develop a medical emergency while trying to replace medication or supplies, call 15 (SAMU) or 112 rather than continuing to search for a pharmacy or doctor.
One Thing I’d Do Before Leaving Home
Take pictures of everything.
Medication boxes. Prescription labels. Insulin packaging. CGM boxes. Pump supplies. Model numbers.
Then save those photographs with your prescriptions and medication list somewhere you can access even if your luggage disappears.
You may never need them.
But trying to explain to a pharmacist in Paris that you need “the little thing that connects to my pump—I think the box was blue” is not how I’d want to spend an afternoon in Paris.
Pharmacies Are an Important First Stop
French pharmacists can do more than sell over-the-counter medication.
If you’ve lost diabetes medication or supplies, a pharmacist can help determine whether your medication is available in France, whether the same active ingredient is sold under a different brand name, and whether you need to see a French doctor for a new prescription.
Bring your medication list, prescription, original packaging or photos of it, and the generic/active-ingredient name whenever possible.
For a CGM or pump issue, bring the exact manufacturer and model information too. As we discussed earlier, don’t assume a neighborhood pharmacy will stock your particular diabetes technology supplies.
Pharmacy Hours in Paris
Don’t assume every Paris pharmacy will be open late or on Sunday.
Hours vary considerably by location. For example, the City of Paris’s current list for the 6th arrondissement includes pharmacies that close around 6 or 7 p.m., while others remain open until 9 p.m., and only some listed locations operate on Sundays.
That’s why I wouldn’t save the name of just one pharmacy before your trip.
For the hotels we recommend later in this guide, we’ll identify a nearby pharmacy and approximate walking time. But I’d still verify its current hours shortly before traveling.
What Is a Pharmacie de Garde?
This is a useful French phrase to know.
A pharmacie de garde is an on-call pharmacy that provides access to medication outside normal pharmacy operating times, including evenings, weekends or holidays.
The City of Paris directs travelers and residents to MonPharmacien, the Île-de-France pharmacy service, to locate nearby pharmacies that are open in the evening or on weekends.
Find an open or on-call pharmacy with MonPharmacien
This is one link I would actually save on your phone before leaving for Paris.
If You Need a Pharmacy at Night or on Sunday
Don’t rely on Google Maps alone.
Opening hours can change, particularly on Sundays and French public holidays. Use the official on-call pharmacy service to see what’s currently available, or ask your hotel front desk to help locate the nearest open pharmacy.
Paris does maintain pharmacy coverage outside normal business hours, but which pharmacy is on duty can depend on the day and location. For example, the City of Paris publishes date-specific Sunday and holiday on-call pharmacy lists for individual arrondissements.
That means the pharmacy that’s open on one Sunday may not be the one that’s open the following Sunday.
Useful French Pharmacy Words
These are worth taking a screenshot of:
| English | French |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy | Pharmacie |
| On-call pharmacy | Pharmacie de garde |
| Prescription | Ordonnance |
| Insulin | Insuline |
| Diabetes | Diabète |
| Blood glucose | Glycémie |
| Blood glucose meter | Lecteur de glycémie |
| Insulin pump | Pompe à insuline |
| Continuous glucose monitor | Système de mesure du glucose en continu |
| Sensor | Capteur |
And one sentence I’d save:
“J’ai du diabète et j’ai perdu mon médicament.”
I have diabetes and I’ve lost my medication.
You don’t need perfect French. Showing the pharmacist the medication box, label, prescription, or a photo on your phone may be far more useful than trying to pronounce the name of an unfamiliar medication.
One Thing I’d Do Before Your Trip
Once you’ve chosen your Paris hotel, find two pharmacies:
1. The closest regular pharmacy to your hotel
2. How to locate an open pharmacie de garde after hours
Save both pieces of information on your phone.
Later in this guide, we’re going to make this even easier by listing the named pharmacy and approximate walking time for each of our recommended Paris hotels, just like we did for Amsterdam.
Insulin Storage at Your Paris Hotel
If you use insulin, don’t assume the refrigerator in your Paris hotel room is appropriate for medication storage.
This is something I would ask the hotel about before you arrive, especially if you’ll be carrying unopened insulin that needs refrigeration.
How Should Insulin Be Stored?
Storage requirements depend on the specific insulin product, so always follow the instructions that came with your insulin and the guidance from your pharmacist or diabetes-care team.
French health guidance says insulin that requires refrigeration should be stored in a refrigerator, while insulin currently in use may generally be kept outside the refrigerator and protected from heat and sunlight. It also emphasizes checking the instructions for the specific medication because storage requirements can vary.
The other major concern is freezing.
French guidance warns that insulin can be damaged if it freezes and recommends protecting insulin and diabetes equipment from temperature extremes.
A Hotel Minibar Is Not Necessarily a Refrigerator
This distinction matters.
Some Paris hotel rooms have a minibar, but that doesn’t automatically mean it maintains the temperature required for your particular insulin.
Before booking—or at least before arriving—contact the hotel and ask:
“Does the room have a refrigerator that maintains the temperature required for medication, or can the hotel safely refrigerate medication for guests?”
I would specifically say medication rather than simply asking whether the room has a fridge.
If they say yes, ask:
- Is the refrigerator inside the guest room?
- Is it a true refrigerator or a minibar/cooler?
- Can its temperature be adjusted?
- If the room doesn’t have appropriate refrigeration, can medication be stored securely elsewhere in the hotel?
- Is that storage accessible whenever you might need your medication?
Don’t rely on a hotel’s website saying “minibar” and assume you’re covered.
What if Your Paris Hotel Doesn't Have a Refrigerator?
Ask the hotel what arrangements it can make for medication that requires refrigeration.
Some properties may be able to store medication securely in another refrigerator even when there isn’t a suitable one in the guest room.
I’d confirm the arrangement directly with the hotel before your trip, preferably in writing.
And if appropriate refrigeration isn’t available, talk with your pharmacist or diabetes-care team about a safe travel-storage plan for your specific insulin rather than improvising once you arrive.
Be Careful With Ice Packs
Colder isn’t necessarily better.
French health guidance warns against allowing insulin to freeze and says refrigerated medication being transported with cold packs should be protected from direct contact with them.
So don’t place insulin directly against a frozen gel pack or in a hotel freezer.
If you use an insulated medication case or cooling system, follow both the insulin manufacturer’s storage instructions and the cooling product’s directions.
Consider Bringing a Small Thermometer
A compact refrigerator thermometer can help you determine whether an in-room refrigerator is maintaining the temperature required for your medication.
This is particularly useful when the refrigerator has no temperature display.
If insulin has frozen, overheated, changed appearance, or you think it may have been stored incorrectly, don’t guess whether it’s still safe to use. Check the manufacturer’s instructions and contact a pharmacist, manufacturer, or your diabetes-care team for guidance.
Italy’s Ministry of Health also recommends consulting a doctor or pharmacist if a medication develops an unusual appearance, color, odor, or consistency.
Paris in the Summer
This deserves a mention because Paris can get very hot during summer heat waves.
France’s current heat guidance says medications and diabetes-testing equipment should be protected from excessive heat and direct sunlight and stored according to their individual instructions. Heat can also affect glucose meters, test strips and other equipment.
That means I wouldn’t leave insulin or diabetes supplies sitting:
- In direct sunlight
- On a sunny windowsill
- In a hot car
- In an un-air-conditioned room that becomes very warm
- In a bag sitting outside in the sun for hours
What I Would Ask Before Booking
If refrigeration is important to you, send the hotel a quick message:
I travel with insulin that has specific storage requirements. Does the room have a refrigerator suitable for medication, or can the hotel provide secure refrigerated medication storage during my stay?
And get the answer before you book a nonrefundable room if refrigeration is a must-have.
Later in this guide, I’m going to make this easier. In the Paris hotel comparison table, we’ll check our recommended hotels individually and include what each property says about refrigeration, along with the closest pharmacy and grocery store and approximate walking time.
Eating in Paris With Diabetes
Paris is obviously a city where food is a huge part of the experience, and having diabetes doesn’t mean you need a completely separate Paris food itinerary.
The more useful thing is knowing what choices are available.
French national health guidance for people with diabetes emphasizes a varied, balanced diet and notes that eating at restaurants can still be part of everyday life. It specifically suggests asking about how dishes are prepared and requesting vegetables as a side when that works for your individual eating plan.
In Paris, you’ll find everything from bakeries and cafés to traditional brasseries, markets, grocery stores and restaurants serving cuisines from around the world. That variety can make it easier to find something that works with the way you normally manage your diabetes.
When I’m evaluating restaurants for this guide, I’m not looking for places advertising themselves as “diabetic-friendly.”
Instead, I’m looking for menus that appear to give travelers options—different proteins, vegetables, salads, sides or dishes that aren’t all built around the same type of meal.
Later in this guide, I’ll include several flexible places to eat near my recommended Paris hotels so you can see the menus before your trip.
Grocery Stores Can Be Really Useful
Even if you plan to eat out for most meals, having a grocery store near your hotel can be surprisingly helpful.
You can pick up breakfast foods, snacks, drinks, fruit or other familiar items you may want to keep in the room. French health guidance also notes that packaged foods provide ingredient and nutritional information that can help people understand what they’re buying.
That’s why the hotel table later in this guide will include the name of the closest grocery store and approximate walking time, not just the closest pharmacy.
Mealtimes May Be Different From Home
This is one Paris detail worth knowing before your trip.
According to the official Paris tourism office, Parisians generally eat lunch between noon and 1:30 p.m. and dinner between about 8:00 and 10:30 p.m.
That doesn’t mean you have to wait until 8:00 p.m. to eat dinner.
Paris has plenty of cafés and brasseries where you can find food outside traditional restaurant hours. Look for the words “service continu”—that means the restaurant serves meals continuously rather than closing the kitchen between lunch and dinner.
But individual restaurant hours vary, and some kitchens have defined lunch and dinner services. The Paris tourism office recommends checking hours rather than assuming you’ll be able to eat at any restaurant whenever you arrive.
If eating at fairly regular times is important for how you manage your diabetes, check restaurant hours before building your sightseeing schedule around them.
And keep whatever snacks or glucose source you normally carry with you. France’s own diabetes travel guidance recommends travelers prepare for disruptions to their normal meal schedule and carry something they normally use if they need to treat low blood glucose.
Traveling With a CGM or Insulin Pump in Paris
Airport Security With a CGM or Pump
If you use a continuous glucose monitor or insulin pump, traveling to Paris doesn’t necessarily require changing how you manage your diabetes—but it does require a little extra preparation.
Before leaving home, make sure you know the exact manufacturer and model of your device and bring more supplies than you expect to need.
I would pack:
- Extra CGM sensors
- Extra pump supplies and infusion sets
- Chargers, cables and batteries your devices require
- Backup glucose-testing supplies
- Your device manufacturer and model information
- Manufacturer customer-support information
- A prescription and/or medical letter documenting your diabetes and devices
France’s national health-insurance guidance recommends travelers with diabetes bring extra supplies and a medical certificate explaining essential medical equipment, particularly when traveling internationally.
Don’t Count on Finding Your Exact Supplies in Paris
Paris has plenty of pharmacies, but that doesn’t mean the pharmacy down the street will carry the exact CGM sensor, transmitter, infusion set or pump component you use at home.
Availability can differ between countries.
If you need a replacement, contact your device manufacturer to determine whether your specific product is distributed in France and how replacement supplies are handled there.
This is another reason I’d bring at least one backup way to check your glucose if you normally depend entirely on a CGM.
Airport Security With a CGM or Insulin Pump
This section is important because there isn’t one airport-security rule that is safe to apply to every CGM and insulin pump.
The correct screening method can depend on the exact device you’re wearing.
For flights departing France, French health guidance says travelers should present a prescription in their name when carrying liquid medication, needles, syringes and insulin pens in hand luggage. It also recommends a medical certificate for travelers using an insulin pump.
Air France similarly says medication needed during a flight is exempt from the normal liquid restrictions when accompanied by a prescription or doctor’s statement, and travelers with medical devices may be asked for supporting documentation at security.
Check Your Device Manufacturer Before You Fly
This is the piece I really want readers to understand:
Don’t assume that because someone else’s CGM can go through a scanner, yours can too.
Manufacturer instructions can even differ between models from the same company.
For example, current U.S. Dexcom guidance says the Dexcom G7 can be worn through walk-through metal detectors and Advanced Imaging Technology body scanners.
Dexcom’s guidance for the G6 is different: it recommends avoiding AIT body scanners and baggage X-ray machines and using alternatives such as hand-wanding, a pat-down or visual inspection.
Medtronic also warns that its pumps and CGM devices should not be exposed to certain airport imaging/X-ray equipment and recommends requesting an alternative screening method when necessary.
That’s why I wouldn’t give a blanket instruction like “CGMs can go through airport scanners.”
Instead, before your trip:
Look up the airport-security instructions for your exact CGM and pump model.
Save a screenshot or PDF of those instructions on your phone so you can show security personnel if necessary.
Tell Security Before Screening Begins
When departing from Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Orly (ORY), or another French airport, tell the security officer that you’re wearing a medical device before you enter the screening equipment.
If your manufacturer says your device shouldn’t go through the scanner being used, explain that and request an appropriate alternative screening method.
France’s Interior Ministry specifically directs travelers with medical devices to check Paris airport guidance before going through security, and France’s official aviation guidance notes that airlines can impose additional restrictions.
Keep Diabetes Supplies in Your Carry-On
Keep insulin, essential medication, CGM/pump supplies and the equipment you can’t easily replace with you rather than putting everything in checked luggage.
Have your prescription and medical documentation somewhere easy to reach.
I would also put diabetes supplies together in an organized pouch rather than scattering sensors, needles, medication and pump supplies throughout your carry-on.
One Thing I’d Do Before the Airport
A few days before your flight home from Paris:
- Check your exact CGM/pump manufacturer’s current airport-security instructions.
- Check the current security information for your Paris departure airport.
- Save the manufacturer’s instructions to your phone.
- Keep your prescription/medical letter with your supplies.
- Allow some extra time at security in case you need alternative screening.
That’s much better than discovering at the security checkpoint that your particular device shouldn’t go through the machine you’re about to enter.
Helpful French Phrases for Travelers With Diabetes
You don’t need to speak fluent French to travel to Paris, but having a few diabetes-related phrases saved on your phone can make a pharmacy, restaurant, or medical situation considerably easier.
I would screenshot this section before your trip.
| English | French |
|---|---|
| I have diabetes. | J’ai du diabète. |
| I have Type 1 diabetes. | J’ai un diabète de type 1. |
| I have Type 2 diabetes. | J’ai un diabète de type 2. |
| I use insulin. | J’utilise de l’insuline. |
| I need insulin. | J’ai besoin d’insuline. |
| I need a pharmacy. | J’ai besoin d’une pharmacie. |
| Where is the nearest pharmacy? | Où est la pharmacie la plus proche ? |
| I lost my medication. | J’ai perdu mes médicaments. |
| I need a doctor. | J’ai besoin d’un médecin. |
| It’s a medical emergency. | C’est une urgence médicale. |
| I have an insulin pump. | J’ai une pompe à insuline. |
| I use a glucose sensor/CGM. | J’utilise un capteur de glucose. |
| This medication needs to be refrigerated. | Ce médicament doit être conservé au réfrigérateur. |
| Do you have a refrigerator for medication? | Avez-vous un réfrigérateur pour les médicaments ? |
| I need something with sugar. | J’ai besoin de quelque chose de sucré. |
| Can you call a doctor? | Pouvez-vous appeler un médecin ? |
At a Paris Pharmacy
If you’re trying to replace medication, don’t rely on pronunciation alone.
Show the pharmacist:
Your prescription + medication packaging/photo + generic/active ingredient name + dosage and strength.
Then you can say:
“Je prends ce médicament. Est-il disponible en France ?”
I take this medication. Is it available in France?
Or:
“J’ai perdu ce médicament. Pouvez-vous m’aider ?”
I lost this medication. Can you help me?
At Your Hotel
For insulin refrigeration:
“J’ai de l’insuline qui doit être conservée au réfrigérateur.”
I have insulin that needs to be refrigerated.
Then:
“Avez-vous un réfrigérateur adapté aux médicaments ?”
Do you have a refrigerator suitable for medication?
I particularly like having that phrase available because “Does my room have a minibar?” isn’t really the question we’re trying to answer.
At a Restaurant
You don’t need a long list of complicated food translations. A few simple questions are more useful:
“Qu’est-ce qu’il y a dans ce plat ?”
What is in this dish?
“La sauce peut-elle être servie à part ?”
Can the sauce be served on the side?
“Puis-je avoir des légumes à la place ?”
Can I have vegetables instead?
And if you need something quickly because of low blood glucose:
“J’ai besoin de sucre rapidement.”
I need sugar quickly.
Save the Important Ones Offline
I’d screenshot the phrases you think you might actually need rather than depending entirely on an internet connection or translation app.
In a stressful situation, pulling up:
“J’ai du diabète. J’ai besoin d’un médecin.”
is a lot easier than trying to remember high-school French while you’re worried about your blood sugar.
Choosing a Paris Hotel When Traveling With Diabetes
Choosing where to stay in Paris usually comes down to location, budget, neighborhood and the type of hotel experience you want.
When you’re traveling with diabetes, I think there are a few additional things worth considering.
For my regular Paris hotel recommendations, I look at the things most travelers care about—location, comfort, value and how easy the hotel makes it to explore the city. For this guide, I’m adding another layer.
Things I Look for in a Paris Hotel for Travelers With Diabetes
Medication refrigeration
If you need to refrigerate insulin or another medication, don’t assume that a minibar will work. Ask whether the hotel can provide appropriate medication refrigeration and where it will be located.
An onsite restaurant or reliable food option
This is one I wouldn’t have thought much about before talking with my mother-in-law.
Having an onsite restaurant can be surprisingly valuable when you’re tired, jet-lagged, arriving late or simply don’t want to go searching for somewhere to eat.
And if eating at fairly regular times is important for how you manage your diabetes, knowing there’s food available right at the hotel can provide some extra peace of mind.
A pharmacy within easy walking distance
Paris has pharmacies everywhere, but “there are lots of pharmacies in Paris” isn’t particularly helpful when you actually need one.
For each hotel below, I’m going to identify a specific nearby pharmacy and approximately how many minutes it takes to walk there.
A grocery store nearby
I also like knowing there’s somewhere close to pick up breakfast foods, snacks, drinks or other familiar items.
Again, we’ll list the specific grocery store and approximate walking time rather than simply saying groceries are nearby.
Restaurants with flexible menus nearby
I’m not looking for restaurants claiming to be “diabetic-friendly.”
Instead, I’m looking for restaurants whose menus appear to provide choices—different proteins, vegetables, salads, sides or dishes that may make it easier for someone to choose a meal that works for them.
Location still matters
I wouldn’t choose an inconvenient Paris hotel solely because it checks every diabetes-related box.
The goal is to find a hotel that’s a good choice for your Paris trip and makes some of the practical parts of traveling with diabetes easier.
Practical Paris Hotel Details for Travelers with Diabetes
| Hotel/ Check Availability | Refrigerator | Nearby Essentials | On-site Dining/food options |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Minibar listed. Confirm requirements for temperature-sensitive medication. |
Pharmacie du Marché Saint-Honoré — approx. 5 min walk. Carrefour Express, Rue Saint-Roch — approx. 4–5 min walk |
Yes — Le Dalí + additional dining/room service |
|
|
Minibar listed; confirm suitability |
Pharmacy Archives, 2 Rue des Archives — approx. 2 min walk. Franprix, 18 Rue du Roi de Sicile — approx. 3 min walk |
Yes — multiple onsite dining options |
|
|
Minibar listed; confirm suitability |
Pharmacy Archives, 2 Rue des Archives — approx. 2 min walk. Franprix, 18 Rue du Roi de Sicile — approx. 3 min walk |
Yes — Boubalé + 24-hour room service |
|
|
Minibar listed; confirm suitability |
Pharmacie Bergère, 20 Rue du Faubourg Poissonnière — approx. 3 min walk. Franprix, 19 Boulevard Poissonnière — approx. 1 min walk |
Yes — onsite restaurant + room service |
|
|
Minibar listed; confirm suitability |
Latin Quarter Pharmacy, 33 Rue Saint-Jacques — approx. 3 min walk. Franprix, 2 Rue Domat — approx. 2 min walk |
Breakfast only |
Flexible Places to Eat Near Hotels
These restaurants are included because their published menus appear to offer proteins, vegetables, salads, side dishes or separately ordered items that may make it easier to build a meal around your own needs. They are not specifically endorsed as “diabetes-friendly,” and menus, ingredients and preparation methods can change. Confirm ingredients and make food and insulin decisions based on your own diabetes-care plan.
| Hotel | Restaurants | Approximate Walk | Why the menu appears flexible |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Le Meurice |
Restaurant Le Dalí |
At the hotel |
Probably the easiest option. Its all-day menu ranges from lighter choices to fish, sandwiches and other full meals, so you’re not locked into a tasting menu. |
|
Hôtel Plaza Athénée |
Le Relais Plaza |
At the hotel |
Broad à-la-carte menu with fish, vegetables, salads, meat and vegetarian choices. |
|
Le Grand Mazarin |
Le Trumilou |
About 8–10 min |
Traditional French brasserie menu with multiple meat, fish and classic French dishes rather than a fixed tasting menu. |
|
Hôtel des Grands Boulevards |
Louisette |
About 5 min |
French-Italian/Mediterranean brasserie with a broad menu and long service hours, giving travelers more choice than a small fixed-menu restaurant. |
|
Hôtel du Collège de France |
La Pie Noir |
About 5 min |
French bistro with a varied à-la-carte approach and a mix of traditional dishes rather than only one style of meal. |
Frequently Asked Questions About Traveling to Paris with Diabetes
Can I bring insulin and diabetes supplies into France?
Yes. Travelers can bring medication into France for personal use. French Customs says the amount should generally correspond to the duration of treatment shown on your prescription. Without a prescription, the general allowance for ordinary medication is up to three months of treatment. Different rules can apply to narcotic and psychotropic medicines.
Bring your current prescription and keep medication in its original labeled packaging when possible. It is also helpful to have the generic or active-ingredient name of each medication rather than relying only on a U.S. brand name.
Can I get insulin in Paris if I lose mine?
Insulin is available in France, but don’t assume your exact brand, formulation, or strength will be immediately available at a Paris pharmacy.
Start with a pharmacy and bring your prescription, medication packaging or photographs, and the exact generic/active ingredient, strength and dosage. A pharmacist can help determine what’s available and whether you need to see a French doctor for a local prescription.
Don’t substitute a different insulin on your own.
Will a U.S. prescription work at a pharmacy in Paris?
Don’t count on a U.S. prescription working exactly as it does at home. France has specific dispensing requirements for prescriptions written outside the European Union.
Your U.S. prescription is still extremely useful because it documents what you take. Bring it, but be prepared for a French pharmacist to tell you that you’ll need to see a doctor in France before a prescription medication can be dispensed.
Can I buy CGM sensors or insulin-pump supplies in Paris?
Possibly, but don’t assume your exact supplies will be readily available.
Products and distribution can differ between the United States and France, and a neighborhood pharmacy may not stock your particular CGM sensor, transmitter, infusion set, reservoir or pump component.
Bring extra supplies and save the manufacturer, exact model and product information before your trip. If something needs replacing, contact your device manufacturer to find out whether that specific product is distributed in France.
Do Paris hotels have refrigerators for insulin?
Some Paris hotels provide minibars or small refrigerators, but a minibar isn’t automatically appropriate for medication storage.
If your insulin requires refrigeration, contact the hotel before your trip and ask specifically whether it can provide refrigeration that meets the storage requirements for your medication. Don’t simply ask whether the room has a minibar.
What should I do if I need a pharmacy at night or on Sunday in Paris?
Look for a pharmacie de garde, an on-call pharmacy providing access outside normal pharmacy hours.
The City of Paris recommends the official MonPharmacien service for finding pharmacies open during evenings, Sundays and public holidays.
I’d save that resource on your phone before your trip rather than waiting until you need it.
What number should I call for a medical emergency in Paris?
Call 15 for SAMU, France’s emergency medical service, or 112, the European emergency number.
For medical help that isn’t life-threatening, Paris also has services such as SOS Médecins that can provide medical consultations and, in some circumstances, home or hotel visits.
Can I wear my CGM or insulin pump through airport security in Paris?
It depends on your exact device.
Don’t follow generic advice that says all CGMs or pumps can—or cannot—go through airport scanners. Manufacturer instructions can differ even between different models from the same company.
Before traveling, check the current airport-screening instructions for your exact CGM or pump and save a copy on your phone. Tell the security officer about your medical device before screening begins if you require an alternative screening method.
Is Paris difficult to visit with diabetes?
There’s no reason diabetes by itself should prevent someone from enjoying Paris, but the city can involve a lot of walking, later dinner times, and long sightseeing days.
Planning ahead can help. Know where pharmacies and grocery stores are near your hotel, carry whatever you normally use to manage low blood glucose, bring extra medication and supplies, and talk with your diabetes-care team about changes in activity, meal timing and time zones before traveling.
Should I get travel insurance for Paris if I have diabetes?
It’s worth checking your coverage carefully before traveling. Don’t assume your U.S. health insurance provides the same coverage in France that it does at home.
If you buy travel insurance, read the policy’s medical coverage and any provisions involving pre-existing conditions. Save the insurer’s medical-assistance number on your phone and keep receipts and documentation if you need medical care or replacement medication during the trip.
Final Thoughts on Traveling to Paris With Diabetes
Paris is one of those cities where a little planning before you leave can make the trip considerably easier once you arrive.
If you’re traveling with diabetes, that planning goes beyond deciding which arrondissement to stay in or figuring out how to fit the Louvre and Eiffel Tower into the same day. It means knowing where the closest pharmacy is, whether your hotel has a minibar or another option for medication storage, where you can grab groceries, and what you would do if medication or diabetes supplies were lost.
You probably won’t need most of the backup information in this guide.
That’s kind of the point.
Save the emergency numbers. Take photos of your medication and device information. Bring more supplies than you think you’ll need. Check the airport-security guidance for your exact CGM or pump. And know where the pharmacy near your hotel is before you need it.
Then go enjoy Paris.
Have the croissant. Sit at the café longer than you planned. Walk along the Seine. See the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night.
Diabetes may require some additional planning, but it doesn’t have to become the focus of the trip.
And if Paris isn’t your only stop, you can find more practical information in my Traveling With Diabetes destination guides, including Rome, Amsterdam and Vienna.
Planning a Trip to Paris?
If you’re heading to Paris, I have a few more guides that can help with the rest of your planning:
→ Where to Stay in Paris (Best Areas + Hotels for First-Time Visitors)
→ Best Hotels in Paris (5 Perfect Stays by Area + Budget)
→ The Perfect 3 Days in Paris Itinerary (First-Time Travel Guide)
→ 15 Can’t Miss Things to Do in Paris (First-Time Travel Guide)
→ Best Time to Visit Paris (Month-by-Month Guide + When to Avoid)