Diabetes Care During Natural Disasters, Emergencies, and Hazards

During natural disasters, emergencies, and hazards people with diabetes face particular challenges to their health care. If you are an evacuee or are in an emergency situation, it is of prime importance to identify yourself as a person with diabetes and any related conditions, so you can obtain appropriate care. It is also important to prevent dehydration by drinking enough fluids, which can be difficult when drinking water is in short supply. In addition, it is helpful to keep something containing sugar with you at all times, in case you develop hypoglycemia (low blood glucose). To prevent infections, which people with diabetes are more vulnerable to, pay careful attention to the health of your feet, and get medical treatment for any wounds.

The CDC has compiled many natural disaster and emergency resources in English, Spanish, and several other languages.

Below are additional links which may be especially useful for people with diabetes. Some of the following documents are available in Portable Document Format.

For simple publications explaining the basics about diabetes, visit our page of resources for health educators

Get email updates Receive updates on diabetes whenever new information is available

Emergency Preparedness

1. Emergency Preparedness and You
   http://emergency.cdc.gov/preparedness
    
2. Ready—Prepare.Plan.Stay Informed.
   http://www.ready.gov
    
3. Federal Emergency Management Agency
   http://www.fema.gov
    

Insulin, Drug, and Equipment Advice

1. Insulin Storage and Potency
   Switching Between Products in an Emergency
   http://www.fda.gov/cder/emergency/insulin.htm
   Patients should try to keep their insulin as cool as possible, avoiding direct heat and direct sunlight as well as freezing if placed on ice. Although a physician should supervise when switching insulin products, here are recommendations for emergency situations.
    
2. Blood Glucose Meters and Hurricane Disasters
   http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/
   HomeHealthandConsumer/ConsumerProducts/BreastPumps/ucm055987.htm#bgm
   Heat and humidity can damage blood glucose meters and test strips. If you use a blood glucose meter, check the meter and test strip package insert for information on use during unusual heat and humidity.
    
3. Diabetes Disaster Preparedness
   http://www.state.nj.us/health/fhs/documents/diabetes_disaster_guidelines.pdf [PDF–211 KB]
   This brochure includes helpful disaster management tips about insulin, pens, and syringes; food safety; foot care; managing hot weather, erratic mealtimes, physical exertion, and sick days.  

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Winter Weather

1. Be Prepared: Staying Safe and Healthy in Winter Weather
   http://www.cdc.gov/Features/WinterWeather/
   Winter storms and cold temperatures can be hazardous, but if you plan ahead, you can stay safe and healthy.

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Health Advice

For simple publications explaining the basics about diabetes, visit our page of resources for health educators

1. Do You Have Diabetes?
   http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/emergency_flyer.htm
   En Español: ¿Tiene Diabetes?
   http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/spanish/emergency_flyersp.htm  
   A colorful, illustrated one-page handout reminding people with diabetes to take their medicine, check their feet for injuries, monitor their blood glucose, and try to eat healthy foods. In printer-friendly format.
    
2. Preparedness Toolkit for People with Diabetes
   http://chfs.ky.gov/dph/info/dpqi/cd/diabetes.htm
    
3. Kidney Community Emergency Preparedness and Response
   http://www.kidney.org/help/index.cfm
   Provides essential information to help dialysis patients, transplant recipients, and kidney health care professionals before and during emergencies.
    
4. Do You Have High Blood Pressure?
   http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/pdf/hypertension.pdf [PDF–947 KB]
    
5. Hand Hygiene in Emergency Situations
   http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/handhygiene.asp 
   After an emergency, it can be difficult to find running water. However, it is still important to wash your hands to avoid illness or infection, especially when testing your blood glucose or treating a wound.
    
6. Keep Water Safe after a Natural Disaster
   http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/foodwater.asp#water
   Water may not be safe to drink, clean with, or bathe in after a hurricane or flood, which can be a particular problem for people with diabetes, who especially need to drink fluids and keep wounds clean.
    
7. Emergency Wound Care After a Natural Disaster
   http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/woundcare.asp
   People often receive wound injuries during and after a natural disaster, and wound care is of particular importance for people with diabetes.
    
8. Foot Care for People with Diabetes
   http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/faq/concerns.htm#10
   Trench Foot or Immersion Foot
   http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/trenchfoot.asp
   Foot wounds or infections can develop into serious problems for people with diabetes, so foot care is especially important.
    
9. Cold and Flu Care for People with Diabetes
   http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/faq/concerns.htm#17
   Cold and flu care is very important when you have diabetes, because being sick can raise your blood glucose, prevent you from eating properly, and make your immune system more vulnerable to serious illness.
   
    
10. Kidney Community Emergency Preparedness and Response
    http://www.kidney.org/help/index.cfm
    This Web site, provided by the National Kidney Foundation, provides essential information to help dialysis patients, transplant recipients, and their families before and during emergencies. It includes a toll-free telephone help line, links to regional end-stage renal disease networks and related emergency preparedness resources, and mental health resources.

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H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) Information

• How does diabetes affect how I respond to a cold or flu?
• What should I do when I am sick?
• Preparing for a Pandemic
• Hand Hygiene in Emergency Situations

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Health Coverage

1. Social Security
   http://www.socialsecurity.gov/emergency/
   The Social Security Administration is working to deliver monthly payments to beneficiaries affected by recent hurricanes, through temporary U.S. Postal Service delivery stations, Social Security offices, and through direct deposit.

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General Hurricane Recovery Information

1. Hurricane Recovery Information from FirstGov.gov
   http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics
   /PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery.shtml
    
2. Social Security's Hurricane Information
   http://www.socialsecurity.gov/hurricane/

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Past Hurricane Information

1. Information for Evacuees and Other Affected Persons
   http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/evaccenters.asp 
   Health and violence prevention fact sheets for evacuees, addressing parenting stress, mental health, sexual violence, youth violence, high blood pressure, head lice, hand hygiene, carbon monoxide, and wound care.
    
2. Hurricane Katrina—Special Messages for Schools
   http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/crisis/hurricane.htm
   Information for schools supporting evacuated students, addressing immunizations, mental health, meals, school supplies, and maintaining routines.
    
3. Hurricane Katrina Recovery Information from FirstGov.gov
   http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics
   /PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery.shtml
   This website contains pertinent information for Katrina evacuees.
   En Español: Huracán Katrina y Rita
   http://usasearch.gov/search?v%3Aproject=firstgov-espanol
   &language=spanish&query=huracan
    
4. American Diabetes Association—Hurricane Katrina Information
   http://www.diabetes.org/hurricane-katrina.jsp
   This diabetes-specific Web site includes information about local medical resources available in affected areas.
    
5. Emergency Refills in Texas
   http://www.tsbp.state.tx.us/hurricanemain.htm
   The Texas State Board of Pharmacy has reported that it will relax rules to allow Texas pharmacists to provide up to a 30 day supply of medication in an emergency refill.
    
6. AstraZeneca
   http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/help-affording-your-medicines/
   Participants in the AstraZeneca Foundation Patient Assistance Program (PAP) can call 1-800-424-3727 to request a product refill or replacement, and change of address. Patients not enrolled in the AstraZeneca PAP are urged to visit a physician, pharmacist, local clinic/hospital or disaster relief agency to receive the AstraZeneca product that they have been prescribed.
    
7. Eli Lilly
   http://llynews360.client.shareholder.com/
   Eli Lilly and Company is donating insulin to those in need in the affected areas, and will assess the appropriateness of donations of other medicines as the specific needs become clearer. All of the company's product donations will be coordinated through Heart to Heart and the American Red Cross.
     
8. Novo Nordisk
   http://press.novonordisk-us.com
   Novo Nordisk has designated $500,000 of its contributions to provide immediate care for people with diabetes. In addition, it is providing insulin products and advanced delivery devices, including prefilled insulin pens that can be used for a limited time without refrigeration. Since insulin should be stored in a cold place before it is given to people, Novo Nordisk has a system in place to provide clinics and shelters with refrigerators and generators. In addition to insulin, Novo Nordisk will provide its other therapies as the need arises.

 

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