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Diabetes Disaster Preparedness Patient Information

748 - Diabetic Gourmet Magazine

Modern media have made our world seem small. News about events around the world reaches us in minutes. We learn of hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, industrial accidents and terrorist attacks immediately. TV teaches us that any disaster brings chaos to people and their environments.

As a person with diabetes, your daily routine involves schedules and planning. An emergency can seriously affect your health. It may be difficult to cope with a disaster when it occurs. You and your family should plan and prepare beforehand even if the event is loss of electricity for a few hours. The first 72 hours following a disaster are the most critical for families. This is the time when you are most likely to be alone. For this reason, it is essential for you and your family to have a disaster plan and kit which should provide for all your family�s basic needs during these first hours.

Be Prepared List

You should safely store the following medical supplies or have them readily available:


Copy of your emergency information and medical list
Extra copies of prescriptions
Insulin or pills (include all medications that you take daily including over the counter medications)
Syringes
Alcohol swabs
Cotton balls & tissues
A meter to measure blood sugar
Blood sugar diary
Insulin pump supplies (if on insulin pump)
Strips for your meter
Urine ketone testing strips
Lancing device and lancets
Quick acting carbohydrate (for example, glucose tablets, orange juice, etc.)
Longer lasting carbohydrate sources (for example, cheese and crackers)
Glucagon Emergency Kit (if on insulin)
Empty hard plastic detergent bottle with cap to dispose used lancets and syringes

Other supplies:

Helpful Hints About Insulin, Pens, Syringes

Things To Remember

Hot Weather Tips

Content Continues Below ⤵ ↷

At All Times

Food Items To Be Stored

These supplies should be checked and replaced yearly.

Food Considerations During A Disaster

  1. Food and water supply may be limited and/or contaminated. Do not eat food you think may be contaminated. It may be necessary to boil water for 10 minutes before use.
  2. Drink plenty of water.
  3. Maintain your meal plan to the best of your ability. Your plan should include a variety of meat/meat substitutes (i.e., peanut butter, dried beans, eggs), milk/milk products, fruits, vegetables, cereal, grains.
  4. Limit sugar/sugar-containing foods.

    These foods include:

    • Jellies, jams, molasses
    • Honey
    • Syrups (fruits canned in sugar syrup, pancake syrup)
    • Tonic (dietetic tonics with less than one calorie per ounce are allowed)
    • Frosted cake
    • Presweetened or sugar-coated cereals
    • Pie, pastry, Danish pastry, doughnuts
    • Chocolate
    • Custards, pudding, sherbet, ice cream
    • Gelatin
    • Soda
    • Cookies, brownies
  5. Monitor your blood sugars frequently and record in diary.
  6. When reading labels, limit products with these sugar-containing ingredients:
    • Sugar
    • Corn syrup
    • Dextrose
    • Sucrose
    • Corn sweeteners
    • Honey
    • Molasses
    • Brown sugar
    • Fruit syrup
  7. Avoid greasy, fried foods.
  8. Try to eat meals and snacks at the same time every day. Avoid periods of hunger and overindulgence. The quantity and frequency of your food intake should remain similar day-to-day depending upon your activity level.
  9. Increase food and water intake during periods of increased exertion or physical activity by either eating between-meal snacks before activity or by eating additional food with meals.
  10. Carry a fast source of sugar with you at all times:
    • 3 glucose tablets
    • 1 small box of raisins
    • 6-7 small hard sugar candies

Sick Day Rules During A Disaster

  1. Always take your insulin or pills on time or close to it. Never omit your insulin unless your doctor has told you otherwise. Insulin is still good if there is no refrigeration. A used or unused bottle of insulin may be kept at room temperature (59F - 86F) for 28 days. Discard unrefrigerated insulin after 28 days.
  2. Keep an extra bottle of each type of insulin you use on hand at all times.
  3. Eat within 15 min. or no later than � hour after taking your insulin (depending on insulin type) or diabetes medicine. Try to eat on time.
  4. Never skip a meal. If you cannot eat solid food because of nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea, sip regular coke, eat hard candies, fruit or regular soft drinks instead of following your usual meal plan.
  5. Most Important:
    • Do not let yourself get dehydrated.
    • Drink plenty of liquids.
    • In between meal times, sip diet soda. (This will not replace food, but can help you be hydrated.)
  6. Rest.
  7. Check your blood sugar. Notify your doctor if your blood sugar average is over 240mg or if you are ill for 2 days.
  8. Test your urine for ketones when:
    • Your blood sugar average is over 240mg.
    • You are vomiting
    • You have symptoms of high blood sugar (increased thirst or hunger than usual, quick weight loss, increased urination, very tired, stomach pain, breathing fast or fruity breath smell).
  9. Call your doctor if your ketone test is moderate or high and/or if you have symptoms of high blood sugar (as listed in number 8). You may need more than your usual amount of insulin on a sick day. Your doctor can guide you in this.

    If you need medical assistance / or are out of all medications, food, and cannot reach your doctor, immediately:

    • Go to the nearest hospital; or
    • Contact the police; or
    • Contact the American Red Cross; or
    • Go to an Emergency Medical Center