Everyone needs to be prepared for disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes that often occur without warning and can seriously threaten lives. This is especially true if you have a chronic illness such as diabetes. Even a simple power outage can be life-threatening.
That is why The Diabetes Disaster Response Coalition (DDRC) urges all people with diabetes and their loved ones to prepare for a disaster by putting together a diabetes emergency kit and making, a plan to stay healthy and safe during a disaster and in its aftermath.
The DDRC created a Patient Preparedness Plan to help people with diabetes face the unique challenges of effectively managing their diabetes during times of disaster. Major storms and hurricanes may knock out electricity for hours, days or longer, making it challenging to refrigerate or store life-saving insulin. Medication and diabetes supplies may be lost, damaged or run out, and drinking water and healthy food may be difficult to find.
“When life is in a crisis mode, diabetes adds even more obstacles,” Kelly Mueller, Vice President, American Diabetes Association and Co-Chair of the DDRC, said in a press release. “We know securing medication can be a challenge. Our goal, as a coalition, is to ensure that people with diabetes have fast and adequate access to health care, information, and supplies.”
You don’t want to be caught in a disaster without your