| Preparing For Disaster. Diabetic Preparedness Key | | | | information and contact list, including caregiver's |
| To Survival This Season. | | | | and physicians' names and phone numbers |
| When Hurricane Katrina struck last August, people | | | | Physician's orders for your child's care on file at |
| with diabetes faced particular challenges, especially | | | | school and in your disaster kit |
| those using insulin. More than 20 million people in | | | | Glucagon emergency kit and fast-acting |
| America have diabetes, and many others suffer | | | | carbohydrate (glucose tablets, orange juice) |
| with other chronic health conditions. | | | | Nonperishable food such as granola bars and |
| Renata Nyleve Editor of the "How To Reverse | | | | water |
| Diabetes" website -- -- pointed out; | | | | First-aid kit, flashlight, whistle, matches, candles, |
| "…During this year's hurricane and tornado | | | | radio with batteries, work gloves |
| season, Eli Lilly and Company, one of the world's | | | | Supplies for at least a week |
| leading manufacturers of insulin, suggests that | | | | Something containing sugar in case you develop |
| individuals with diabetes or any other chronic illness | | | | low blood sugar. |
| should follow the guidelines below, no matter | | | | If disaster strikes, remember to: |
| where you live…" | | | | Maintain meal plan, keep hydrated. |
| Medicine and supplies should be stored in a defined | | | | Monitor blood sugar and record numbers. |
| location to be easily gathered if you must quickly | | | | Wear shoes and examine feet often. If a foot |
| evacuate home or work. | | | | wound develops, seek medical attention |
| Keep cool packs in your freezer to keep medicine | | | | immediately. |
| cool. | | | | If relocated, call your doctors as soon as possible |
| Compile an easy-to-reach kit including: | | | | to maintain the continuity of your medical care. |
| Medical supplies: syringes, cotton balls, tissues, | | | | Parents of children with diabetes should identify |
| swabs, blood glucose testing strips, blood glucose | | | | which school staff members will assist children in |
| meter, lancing device and lancets, urine ketone | | | | an emergency. |
| testing strips, items for your therapy and blood | | | | If you are displaced, identify yourself immediately |
| sugar monitoring | | | | as a person with diabetes so authorities can |
| An empty hard plastic bottle to dispose of | | | | provide medical care. |
| syringes and lancets | | | | "…No one can fully anticipate a natural disaster, |
| Cooler for insulin | | | | but with preparation, people with diabetes can |
| Pen and notebook | | | | manage their disease. Taking the time to prepare |
| Glasses | | | | could make a huge difference in an |
| Copies of prescriptions, insurance cards, medical | | | | emergency…" R. Nyleve added. |