Humalog® (insulin lispro): Diabetes and Disaster Tips

Disaster Tips

People with diabetes are among the most vulnerable victims of natural disasters, as access to your home, medical supplies, and even medicines may be interrupted or compromised. Taking preventative steps is vitally important, because losing control of your diabetes for weeks or even months can have a disastrous impact on your health.

If you're taking insulin, you should make sure to have a reserve supply of medication and supplies for a period of several weeks in the event of an evacuation or major disaster. Experience with Hurricane Katrina has taught us that medical services, including pharmacies, may not be available and emergency care in shelters may lack the ability to give insulin injections.

The following suggestions can be applied no matter where you live, whether in a hurricane region, tornado alley, or earthquake zone.

Ensure that your insulin and supplies are stored in a defined location and can be easily gathered if you must quickly evacuate your home or work
Keep cool packs or ice in your freezer that can be easily reached to keep your medicine cool while on the go
Compile an easy-to-identify, easy-to-reach kit that includes:
- Extra medical supplies, such as syringes, cotton balls, tissues, alcohol swabs, blood glucose testing strips, blood glucose meter, lancing device and lancets, urine ketone testing strips, and any other items relevant to your therapy and blood sugar monitoring
- An empty hard plastic bottle to dispose of needles, syringes, and lancets
- Small cooler to store your insulin while away from refrigeration
- Pen and small notebook to record your blood sugars
- Extra pair of glasses (if you wear glasses)
- Extra copies of prescriptions and health insurance cards
- Emergency medical information and emergency contact list, including your caregiver's and physician's names and phone numbers. If you are a parent of a child with diabetes, keep a copy of the physician's orders for your child's care on file with the school, as well as in your disaster kit
- Up-to-date glucagon emergency kit and fast-acting sugar source (such as glucose tablets or hard candy)
- Non-perishable items such as granola bars, unsweetened cereal, peanut butter and crackers, and water
- Typical emergency items such as a First-Aid kit, flashlight, whistle, matches and candle, radio with batteries, and work gloves
Keep your kit up to date (i.e., check expiration dates) and ensure you have enough supplies to last at least a week
Keep something containing sugar with you at all times during a disaster in case you develop low blood sugar
Maintain your meal plan to the best of your ability and keep hydrated. However, food and water supplies can often become contaminated during a disaster, so it may be necessary to boil water before drinking
Monitor your blood sugar frequently and record your numbers
Increase your food intake during periods of excessive physical activity (such as lifting heavy objects or walking longer-than-usual distances) by eating appropriate snacks between meals
Wear shoes at all times and examine your feet often, as people with diabetes are more vulnerable to developing infections. If you have a foot wound, seek medical attention immediately
If you are relocated or affected by a disaster, call your doctor as soon as possible to touch base and maintain the continuity of your medical care
If you are a parent of a child with diabetes, make sure you clearly identify which school staff members will assist your child in the event of an emergency
If you are displaced or need to evacuate, identify yourself immediately as a person with diabetes and report any related conditions so that authorities can provide for the proper medical care

No one can anticipate the effects of a natural disaster. However, with the proper preparation and care, people on insulin can survive and manage their diabetes with limited interruption. Taking the time to prepare now may make a huge difference in an emergency.

Common Questions...

Important Safety Information
Humalog, Humalog Mix75/25, and Humalog Mix50/50 are for use in patients with diabetes to control high blood sugar. Humalog should be used with a longer-acting insulin, except when used in combination with sulfonylureas in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Humalog insulins are contraindicated during episodes of hypoglycemia and in patients sensitive to Humalog or one of its excipients. The safety and effectiveness of Humalog in patients less than 3 years of age have not been established. Safety and effectiveness of Humalog Mix75/25 and Humalog Mix50/50 in patients less than 18 years of age have not been established. There are no clinical studies of the use of Humalog insulins in pregnancy or nursing mothers.

Potential side effects associated with the use of all insulins include low blood sugar, weight gain, low blood potassium, changes in fat tissue at the site of injection, and allergic reactions, both general and local. Humalog Mix75/25 and Humalog Mix50/50 should not be mixed with another insulin. Starting or changing insulin therapy should be done cautiously and only under medical supervision.

Humalog insulins are available by prescription only. See the Humalog, Humalog Mix75/25, and Humalog Mix50/50 Patient Product Information for important facts about these products.

Humalog is a registered trademark of Eli Lilly and Company. Humalog Mix75/25 and Humalog Mix50/50 are trademarks of Eli Lilly and Company.