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Tips to help people with Diabetes Plan for
Disaster
Newswise — Natural disasters in 2008 have
proved that hurricane season isn’t the only
time a person should be prepared for the
worst.
That is why the American Association of
Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), and Eli
Lilly and Company are urging people with
diabetes to be ready in advance in the event
disaster strikes.
Hurricane season, which began June 1,
arrived in the midst of an already
devastating year of natural disasters.
Wildfires swept through Florida and
California, floods struck Iowa, earthquakes
hit China and Missouri and a record-breaking
tornado season have all left millions
without homes.
“When people think about preparing for
disasters, they don’t necessarily think of
earthquakes striking Missouri,” AACE
spokesperson Victor Roberts MD, MBA, FACP,
FACE of Endocrine Associates of Florida
said.
"But events like that and the recent tragedy
in Myanmar serve as a painful reminder that
disaster will strike at a moment’s notice.”
Diabetes affects more than 20 million people
in the United States. The management of this
disease requires daily medications which can
make these individuals vulnerable when
natural disasters strike.
These events can upset daily routines and
may leave citizens without access to their
homes, health care professionals,
medications and/or other medical supplies.
The chaos of a disaster can interfere with
these daily routines and result in erratic
eating and disrupted timing of medication
doses.
These disruptions, and the stress induced by
a natural disaster, can both change blood
sugar levels and potentially adversely
affect the health of people with diabetes.
“Taking the time to prepare a disaster kit
in advance is crucial because once a storm
or other emergency threatens, there’s
usually too little time to make all of the
necessary arrangements," Dr. Roberts said.
And it appears there will be no clemency for
the duration of the year. In addition to
Hurricane season, the National Weather
Service recently reported that 2008 has
already been the deadliest year for
tornadoes since 1998.
It’s also primed to break the U.S. record
for the number of tornadoes in a single
year. Read the complete story here:
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/tornadoes/2008-05-27-tornadoes_N.htm
To help diabetes patients prepare for
disaster, AACE and Lilly have developed a
list of helpful tips. These tips can be
applied anywhere, whether in a hurricane
region, tornado alley, an earthquake zone or
elsewhere. A full list is available for
download at
http://www.aace.com/newsroom/disaster/disasterplan.php.
Some of the preparatory activities include:
• Make a list of all medical conditions and
prior surgeries.
• Document information about your diabetes,
including past and present medications, any
adverse reactions to medications, and past
and present complications.
• Make a list of all medications, which
should also include pharmacies and active
prescription information and eligible
refills.
• Prepare and properly store a 30-day supply
of medications for diabetes and all other
medical conditions. For those with diabetes,
this may include insulin, oral anti-diabetic
agents and a glucagon emergency kit (if
prescribed by your physician).
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