When you travel to Italy, or any other country where you do not understand the language well you need to make sure you can tell someone if you are having a medical emergency. If you have a known medical condition write that condition on an index card in both Italian and English. You need the English translation so you know what you are saying! Be sure to have a native speaker look at your card so you know that you have written everything correctly.
Most doctors, medical personnel in hospitals and pharmacists know some English. If you are staying in a hotel and have a problem, it is likely they will know of a local doctor who understands English.
I have had to buy all sorts of medicines for minor problems at pharmacies all across Italy and have found that pantomiming works well though depending on your problem you may have to leave your inhibitions at the door.
Here are some key phrases:

Medical Emergency Phrases Italian
I have diabetes, is this sugar free?
Sono diabetico,c’e zucchero nel questo?
I have heart problems. I have chest pain.
Ho un problemma col mio cuore. Ho dolore nel mio cuore (Petto)
I don’t feel well
Non mi sento bene
I can’t breathe
Non posso respirare
I feel dizzy
Mi gira la testa
I hurt here (point)
Mi fa male qui
I have an upset stomach
Ho lo stomaco in disordine
I have a stomach ache
Ho mal di stomaco.
I have a headache
Ho mal di testa
This is an emergency
Questo e’ un emergenza
Want to learn more Italian phrases?
Click here for our basic Italian Word and Phrases
Click to learn a few Basic Italian Food Allergy Phrases
Rick Steves Italian Phrase book
I speak a little Italian. To supplement I find Rick Steves Italian Phrase Book very helpful. Click here for pricing, a free preview, reviews and phrase book availability on Amazon.
Carry this with you and point to phrases to communicate in Italian.
Hope we have helped you get started learning some Italian.
I may be missing a subtlety but the Italian question about something being sugar free appears to have the opposite meaning of the English phrase. If someone with no knowledge of Italian read it off by rote and got a nod of the head, they’d be off munching on a bar of Torrone with no idea of the consequences.