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News & Information
Help for People with Diabetes Affected by Natural Disasters
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In the wake of recent hurricanes, people with diabetes face particular
challenges to their health care. If you are an evacuee, it is of prime
importance to identify yourself as a person with diabetes and any related
conditions, so you can obtain appropriate care. It is also important to
prevent dehydration by drinking enough fluids, which can be difficult when
drinking water is in short supply. In addition, it is helpful to keep
something containing sugar with you at all times, in case you develop
hypoglycemia (low blood glucose). To prevent infections, which people with
diabetes are
more vulnerable to, pay careful attention to the health of your feet, and
get medical treatment for any wounds.
The CDC has compiled many
hurricane health
and safety resources in English,
Spanish,
and several other languages.
Below are additional links which may be especially useful for people with
diabetes.
For simple publications explaining the basics about diabetes, visit our
page of resources for health educators
 Insulin, Drug, and Equipment Advice
-
Insulin Storage and Potency
Switching Between Products in an Emergency
http://www.fda.gov/cder/emergency/insulin.htm
Patients should try to keep their insulin as cool as possible, avoiding
direct heat and direct sunlight as well as freezing if placed on ice.
Although a physician should supervise when switching insulin products, here
are recommendations for emergency situations.
-
Safety of Drugs Exposed to Hurricane Conditions
http://www.fda.gov/cder/emergency/default.htm
Drug products should be discarded if they came in contact with flood or
contaminated water. In the case of urgently needed life-saving drugs, if the
container is contaminated but the contents appear unaffected (pills are
dry), the pills may be used until a replacement can be obtained.
-
Blood Glucose Meters and Hurricane Disasters
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/emergency/hurricane.html#bgm
Heat and humidity can damage blood glucose meters and test strips. If you
use a blood glucose meter, check the meter and test strip package insert for
information on use during unusual heat and humidity.
- Diabetes Disaster Preparedness
http://www.state.nj.us/health/fhs/documents/diabetes_disaster_guidelines.pdf*
(PDF 211 KB)
This brochure includes helpful disaster management tips about insulin, pens,
and syringes; food safety; foot care; managing hot weather, erratic
mealtimes, physical exertion, and sick days.
Health Advice
For simple publications explaining the basics about diabetes, visit our
page of resources for health educators
- Do You Have Diabetes?
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/katrina/pdf/diabetes.pdf
(PDF 208 KB)
En Español: ¿Tiene Diabetes?
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/katrina/espanol/pdf/diabetes.pdf
(PDF 208 KB)
A colorful, illustrated one-page handout reminding people with diabetes to take
their medicine, check their feet for injuries, monitor their blood glucose, and
try to eat healthy foods. In printer-friendly format.
- Do You Have High Blood Pressure?
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/katrina/pdf/hypertension.pdf
(PDF 947 KB)
En Español: ¿Tiene la presión arterial alta?
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/katrina/espanol/pdf/hypertension.pdf
(PDF 947 KB)
A colorful, illustrated one-page handout reminding people with high blood
pressure to take their medicine, eat healthy foods, get physical exercise,
and get their blood pressure checked soon.
- Hand Hygiene in Emergency Situations
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/handwashing.asp
After an emergency, it can be difficult to find running water. However, it
is still important to wash your hands to avoid illness or infection,
especially when testing your blood glucose or treating a wound.
- Keep Water Safe after a Natural Disaster
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/foodwater.asp#water
Water may not be safe to drink, clean with, or bathe in after a hurricane
or flood, which can be a particular problem for people with diabetes, who
especially need to drink fluids and keep wounds clean.
- Emergency Wound Care After a Natural Disaster
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/woundcare.asp
People often receive wound injuries during and after a natural disaster, and
wound care is of particular importance for people with diabetes.
- Foot Care for People with Diabetes
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/faq/concerns.htm#10
Trench Foot or Immersion Foot
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/trenchfoot.asp
Foot wounds or infections can develop into serious problems for people
with diabetes, so foot care is especially important.
- Cold and Flu Care for People with Diabetes
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/faq/concerns.htm#17
Cold and flu care is very important when you have diabetes, because being
sick can raise your blood glucose, prevent you from eating properly, and
make your immune system more vulnerable to serious illness.
- Preparing for Emergencies: A Guide for People on Dialysis
http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/10150.pdf (PDF 146 KB)
This booklet suggests a 3-day emergency diet to follow if your dialysis must
be delayed, directions for disinfecting water, and lists of supplies to keep
on hand for further emergency situations.
- Medical Consultation for Clinicians and Patient
s
http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/sep2005/od-14.htm
At 1-866-887-2842 (toll-free) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, medical experts at
NIH, academic medical centers and the nation's medical professional societies
are available both to health care providers and to all patients affected by
recent hurricanes to provide medical consultations on a wide array of medical
problems.
- Kidney Community Emergency Preparedness and Response
http://www.kidney.org/help/index.cfm*
This Web site, provided by the National
Kidney Foundation, provides essential information to help dialysis patients,
transplant recipients, and their families before and during emergencies. It
includes a toll-free telephone help line, links to regional end-stage renal
disease networks and related emergency preparedness resources, and mental health
resources.
Health Coverage
Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services
-
Social Security
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/emergency/
The Social Security Administration is working to deliver monthly payments to
beneficiaries affected by recent hurricanes, through temporary U.S. Postal
Service delivery stations, Social Security offices, and through direct
deposit.
General Hurricane Recovery Information
-
Hurricane Recovery Information from FirstGov.gov
http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics
/PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery.shtml
-
Social Security's Hurricane Information
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/hurricane/
Past Hurricane Information
-
Information for Evacuees and Other Affected Persons
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/katrina/shelters.asp#evacuee
Health and violence prevention fact sheets for evacuees, addressing parenting
stress, mental health, sexual violence, youth violence, high blood pressure,
head lice, hand hygiene, carbon monoxide, and wound care.
-
Hurricane Katrina—Special Messages for Schools
http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/crisis/hurricane.htm
Information for schools supporting evacuated students, addressing
immunizations, mental health, meals, school supplies, and maintaining
routines.
-
Hurricane Katrina Recovery Information from FirstGov.gov
http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics
/PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery.shtml
This website contains pertinent information for Katrina evacuees.
En Español: Huracán Katrina y Rita
http://usasearch.gov/search?v%3Aproject=firstgov-espanol&language=spanish&query=huracan
-
American Diabetes Association—Hurricane Katrina
Information
http://www.diabetes.org/hurricane-katrina.jsp*
This diabetes-specific Web site includes information about local medical
resources available in affected areas.
- Rite Aid
http://www.riteaid.com/company_info/press
/press_show.php/item_nbr/753/cat/national*
Rite Aid drugstores are open and operating in all of Louisiana except for
the greater New Orleans area, all of Mississippi except the Gulf Shore area,
and all of Alabama. Anyone with prescription needs can be helped at any open
Rite Aid location. All open Rite Aid drugstores in the affected area are
accepting American Red Cross vouchers.
- Emergency Refills in Texas
http://www.tsbp.state.tx.us/hurricanemain.htm*
The Texas State Board of Pharmacy has reported that it will relax rules to
allow Texas pharmacists to provide up to a 30 day supply of medication in an
emergency refill.
- AstraZeneca
http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/modules/PRMS/display.asp?id=28132*
Participants in the AstraZeneca Foundation Patient Assistance Program (PAP)
can call 1-800-424-3727 to request a product refill or replacement, and
change of address. Patients not enrolled in the AstraZeneca PAP are urged to
visit a physician, pharmacist, local clinic/hospital or disaster relief
agency to receive the AstraZeneca product that they have been prescribed.
- Eli Lilly
http://newsroom.lilly.com/ReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=171822*
Eli Lilly and Company is donating insulin to those in need in the affected
areas, and will assess the appropriateness of donations of other medicines as
the specific needs become clearer. All of the company's product donations
will be coordinated through Heart to Heart and the American Red Cross.
- Merck
http://www.merck.com/about/feature_story/katrina.html*
Merck is providing, through U.S. retail pharmacies, up to a 30-day supply
for patients who need replacement of their existing Merck medicines that were
lost or damaged as a result of recent hurricanes. Patients requiring
replacement medicines from retail pharmacies that are not yet back in
operation will be encouraged to seek assistance from local or state agencies,
where Merck is also providing medicines and vaccines. The need for a
replacement prescription must be verified to the best of the pharmacist's or
physician's knowledge, and the replacement prescription must be filled prior
to Oct. 15 in order for patients to receive their medication.
- Novo Nordisk
http://press.novonordisk-us.com/internal.aspx?rid=310*
Novo Nordisk has designated $500,000 of its contributions to provide
immediate care for people with diabetes. In addition, it is providing insulin
products and advanced delivery devices, including prefilled insulin pens that
can be used for a limited time without refrigeration. Since insulin should be
stored in a cold place before it is given to people, Novo Nordisk has a
system in place to provide clinics and shelters with refrigerators and
generators. In addition to insulin, Novo Nordisk will provide its other
therapies as the need arises.
- Pfizer
http://www.pfizer.com/pfizer/are/news_releases/2005pr/mn_2005_0908.jsp*
Hurricane evacuees in need of medication can fill their
prescriptions for Pfizer medicines at several participating pharmacy chains
and independent community pharmacies across the country.
Documents on this page are available in
Portable Document Format (PDF). Learn more about viewing and printing
these documents with Acrobat
Reader.
* Links to non-Federal organizations are provided solely as a service
to our users. Links do not constitute an endorsement of any organization
by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC
is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web
pages found at this link.
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Page last reviewed: September 12, 2008
Page last modified: September 12, 2008
Content Source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Diabetes Translation
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Diabetes & Me