Preparation for Natural Disasters Important for Diabetics

There are tips for diabetics when disasters occur like hurricanes, floods, fires. tornadoes, etc. Diabetics will be vulnerable during these disasters as they will need their medications and other things. They may also not have access to their homes and their health care team. It is important to be prepared.

Prepare a disaster kit in advance. Dr. Lawrence Blonde of the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans advice all diabetics to do so. In this regard, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and Eli Lilly and Company prepared several tips to help get ready for natural disasters. Prepare a diabetes disaster kit that is both insulated and waterproof with the following:

• All medical conditions and surgeries listed.
  


• Information about diabetes like your medication and reactions
  


• List of contact information on your health care team


• Letter from your health care team about your diabetes and routine with your latest laboratory results.


• All medications listed along with the pharmacies


• 30-day supply of medications like insulin, oral medications, glucagon kit if the doctor prescribed this


• Blood glucose testing supplies with extra batteries


• A cooler to store insulin


• Empty plastic bottles to dispose needles and such


• Source of carbohydrate just in case you need to treat hypoglycemic episode and two-day supply of food that does not need refrigeration
  


• Three-day supply of bottled water


• Pen or pencil and notepad to record test results

For an emergency of a different kind, you will have to be prepared with some kind of an emergency card so people around you will be able to summon for immediate and appropriate help. One never knows when an emergency such as a hypoglycemia attack could occur. Here’s an information card you should have with you at all times:

I have diabetes and if I behave in an unusual manner or if I lose consciousness, it may be because of my diabetes, activity and treatment. Please give me some form of sugar in the form of soft drink, fruit juice, candies or table sugar if you think I can swallow. If I become unconscious, please call 911 for help or my doctor and hospital mentioned below:

My Name:

My Address:

My Phone Number:

Please Contact:

Relationship to Contact Person:

My Doctor:

Doctor’s Phone Number:

Hospital’s Phone Number:

Blood Type:

Allergies:

Health Card Insurance Number: