Bee Healthy: Important to pack an emergency kit for diabetes

Floods, hurricanes, and other emergency situations are in the news weekly. We usually plan for food, water, and fuel in our emergency supplies, but what about any items you need for diabetes control?

Here is a list of possible items to put in your diabetes emergency kit:

1. Any diabetes supplies that you use each day such as monitoring equipment, needles or syringes.

2. Medications (pills or insulin) that you take daily: pack enough for at least 30 days.

3. A cooler for four refreezable gel packs, insulin or injectable meds to be added when ready to go.

4. Three-day supply of bottled water for hydration and taking pills.

5. Snacks to help you control your blood sugar – quick-acting carbohydrates such as dried fruit, glucose tablets, juice packets. Also, longer-acting carbohydrates, two-day supply of nonperishable food such as cheese or cheese crackers, granola bars with nuts, meal replacement shakes.

6. First aid kit. Include bandages, cotton swabs, dressings, and topical medications (antibiotic ointments).

7. Comfortable pair of shoes and clean socks to protect your feet.

8. Pack extra loose-fitting clothing, including undergarments.

9. Matches, flashlight, or lighter to see medications if it is dark.

10. Important papers with your diabetes information: Type of diabetes, contact information for your health care providers, recent labs, list of meds and other medical conditions, allergies, prior surgeries and emergency contact information .

11. Pen/pencil and notepad to record your blood sugar, and make other pertinent notes.

12. Mobile phone with extra charger or extra batteries.

13. Always choose a meeting place for all family members in case you are separated and unable to reach each other by phone.

14. For more information, visit http://www.empoweryourhealth.org/diabetes-emergency-plan.

Having your emergency diabetes kit ready will put your mind at ease should an emergency arise.

This story was originally published November 17, 2014 at 11:23 AM with the headline "Bee Healthy: Important to pack an emergency kit for diabetes."