It’s hurricane season. Are you prepared to take care of your family, and your diabetes? Here’s what you need to know.
If you have to evacuate, I want you to have what you need. In addition to the usual items, you will have to do a little extra planning if you have diabetes. (It seems like you always have to do more when you have diabetes). Being prepared ahead of time is huge if you are victimized by a natural disaster. Here are some strategies and resources so you don’t have to figure everything out on the run.
When Hurricane Katrina hit, many of the folks who were displaced fled to Florida. Some folks with diabetes ran out of insulin.
Obviously, it was stressful trying to find some in a different state. So step-one is to have all of your medications, including the type and dosage, written down and the list with you at all times. You should include your pharmacy name with the address and phone number.
So you’ve got your list, but say you’ve run out of your insulin and don’t have access to your doctor.
Did you know that older traditional insulin, including NPH, regular, and 70/,30 is available without a prescription? This may be a life-saving option in a pinch. Just remember they don’t work the same as the newer analog insulin and the doses will be different. You’ll still need to get advice from a healthcare provider about how much and when to take it.
You probably know It’s best to keep unused insulin refrigerated. However, if you lose power in an emergency, don’t throw it out.
It is okay to use expired or non-refrigerated insulin. On the other hand, do not freeze insulin or pack it in dry ice. A good item to have is a cooling case called “Frio” that gets cold with water. When it dries out, you just get it wet again. It was developed by someone with diabetes who spent long hours outside in high heat and wanted to keep his insulin protected. It is a great asset in a hurricane.
It’s hard to manage diabetes in an emergency. Plan now to have everything that you need to care for yourself.
Here’s a thorough list of what you need from Diabetes Disaster Response Coalition . Add these items to your disaster kit and have everything readily available for travel. Here are more resources, including patient assistance programs and where to find an open pharmacy.
Nat says
Thanks for the info Marcia …. always enjoy reading things you send. Stay safe if we get hit with the hurricane …. well, actually, stay safe if we do or don’t get hit.
Nat
Marcia Pell says
Thank you Nat! You too!