Lessons From Hurricane Sandy: American College of Endocrinology (ACE) Urges Those With Diabetes to Plan Ahead
ACE and Lilly Diabetes offer detailed emergency preparedness plan for natural disasters and other unexpected emergencies
For those with diabetes, lack of access to medicines and routine
diabetes care during an emergency, such as what occurred in the
The plan, created by ACE and Lilly Diabetes in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, contains an index of 17 essential items that people with diabetes should have readily available to help ensure their safety and well-being in the event of severe storms and other emergencies. The plan also has a supporting video.
Disruptions such as lack of drinkable water for maintaining hydration, electricity to keep insulin chilled and viable, lack of proper foods to help keep blood sugars stable, and limited access to medical supplies and healthcare providers may put those with diabetes at risk of serious complications.
"Even though diabetes is a manageable disease, the reality is that
without proper medication and supplies for even a short period of time,
people with diabetes are at risk for complications that can become very
dangerous very quickly," said Dr.
A downloadable copy of the plan in both English and Spanish, along with a step-by-step instructional video, is available at ACE's patient education website, www.empoweryourhealth.org, under the Resources tab. ACE also offers the plan in a water-resistant, credit-card-sized format. Emergency preparedness personnel, first responder organizations and health care personnel can order the plan in bulk online at www.empoweryourhealth.org/product-inquiry.
"Taking a few minutes now to assemble an emergency kit, as outlined in
the plan, may make a world of difference in staying healthy under
stressful circumstances," said Dr.
About the
About Lilly Diabetes
Lilly has been a global leader in diabetes care since 1923, when we introduced the world's first commercial insulin. Today we work to meet the diverse needs of people with diabetes through research and collaboration, a broad and growing product portfolio and a continued commitment to providing real solutions—from medicines to support programs and more—to make lives better. For more information, visit www.lillydiabetes.com.
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