Emergency Preparedness For Type 1 Diabetes
Emergency Preparedness for Type 1 Diabetes From the wrath of Hurricane Sandy along the eastern seaboard to devastating wildfires in the west, the past two years have shattered previous records for natural disaster destruction in the United States. The hardships and chaos these catastrophes cause are difficult enough. But factor in the added demands of managing type 1 diabetes (T1D), and a bad situation can get much worse. No matter where you live, you should have a plan for taking care of yourself and your diabetes in an emergency situation. Kim Kaar lives in southeastern Connecticut with her husband Marko and their three childrenEmily, 18, Gabriel, 10, and Alex, 14, who was diagnosed with T1D at eighteen months of age. Just blocks from Long Island Sound in one direction, and the Connecticut River in the other, the Kaar family has ridden out their fair share of storms over the years. Possessing a mentality of always be prepared has made it fairly easy to keep type 1 diabetes care consistent, Kim explains. Despite the challenges of two hurricanes and a major blizzard over the past two years, advance planning and a well-stocked diabetes emergency kit has kept Alexs T1D safely in check through flooding and extended electrical power loss. But the Kaars may be in the minority. Even though it is something that I always talk to them about, before Superstorm Sandy hit last year, most of my patients did not have realistic emergency plans in place, laments New York-based diabetes educator Susan Weiner, RD, MS, CDE. People just dont think it will happen to themuntil it happens to them. Organization and checklists are key to making it through an emergency, according to Mrs. Weiner, author of the upcoming book The Complete Diabetes Organizer (Spry Publishing, Fall 2013). Think thro Continue reading >>
Kids With Diabetes Resources
Information for Parents: Learning About Diabetes – provides visitors and health care professionals with simply written information on diabetes care. They try to use art and design in novel ways to help readers better understand diabetes. About Kids Health – Children health-related resources from the Hospital for Sick Children of Toronto Canada. They offer a very wide spectrum of thorough information on children physical and mental health issues. For information on Juvenile Diabetes in infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, please refer to this link. Healthychildren.org – This website offers a great compilation of information by American Academy of Pediatrics. Here you will a lot of information about children’s health issues, childcare, and family well-being. For parents who have a busy life schedule, this website offers an audio playback function so that you can listen to the information while juggling with other duties. And to make the information available to Spanish speaking parents, all articles on this website can be translated into Spanish with one click of a button. For general information on Juvenile Diabetes, please click on this link. For information on Diabetes treatments, please click on this link. The Bump – A website catered to pregnant mothers and new parents. It covers topics related to pregnancy, baby and toddler care. ADA For Parents & Kids – The American Diabetes Association focuses on everything related to Diabetes. This area of org is catered specially to parents whose children have recently been diagnosed with Diabetes. Children with Diabetes – Offers a tremendous amount of information for children and parents about Diabetes. A Sweet life: The Diabetes Magazine – a great source of information on the latest news of Diabetes KidsHealth Continue reading >>
Daily Diabetes-care Kit
The go-to device for testing your blood sugar levels. Insulin We recommend packing a 3-day supply. Include short-acting as well as long-acting insulin. When insulin is kept cool at the recommended temperature of 36° F – 46° F, it will last until its expiration date. Unrefrigerated insulin can be stored at a temperature between 59°F-86°F and may be effective up to 28 days. Don’t forget to rotate supplies so that your emergency kit does not contain expired products. Syringes or Pen Needles Both deliver insulin; it depends on what’s your instrument of choice. If you are on a pump you should carry emergency needles and insulin vials, or an emergency pen in case of failure. Alcohol Swabs To clean skin surface before testing blood glucose or administering injection of insulin. Lancing Device with Lancet Device that contains lancet (small, sharp object) to prick skin for blood sample Test Strips Item that collects your blood sample and then is inserted into your blood glucose meter for reading blood glucose levels. Ketone Testing Products This is for testing your urine for ketone, a chemical produced when there’s a shortage of insulin in your blood. The presence of ketone in the urine means the body is using body fat for energy instead of glucose because not enough insulin is available to use glucose. Fast-acting Carbohydrate For treating hypoglycemia pack hard candy, fruit juice, regular soda, glucose tablets or gels. Glucagon Emergency Kit Injectable form of glucagon (available by prescription) and used to treat severe hypoglycemia. (Opposite of insulin.) Medical Identification Diabetes tag or medical bracelet that indicates that you are a Type 1 Diabetic Traveling somewhere? Check out the “T1D Travel Kit“. Want to be prepared for something big? Discover the Continue reading >>
Type 1 Diabetes
Print Diagnosis Diagnostic tests include: Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test. This blood test indicates your average blood sugar level for the past two to three months. It measures the percentage of blood sugar attached to the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells (hemoglobin). The higher your blood sugar levels, the more hemoglobin you'll have with sugar attached. An A1C level of 6.5 percent or higher on two separate tests indicates diabetes. If the A1C test isn't available, or if you have certain conditions that can make the A1C test inaccurate — such as pregnancy or an uncommon form of hemoglobin (hemoglobin variant) — your doctor may use these tests: Random blood sugar test. A blood sample will be taken at a random time and may be confirmed by repeat testing. Blood sugar values are expressed in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or millimoles per liter (mmol/L). Regardless of when you last ate, a random blood sugar level of 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher suggests diabetes, especially when coupled with any of the signs and symptoms of diabetes, such as frequent urination and extreme thirst. Fasting blood sugar test. A blood sample will be taken after an overnight fast. A fasting blood sugar level less than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) is normal. A fasting blood sugar level from 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L) is considered prediabetes. If it's 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) or higher on two separate tests, you have diabetes. If you're diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor may also run blood tests to check for autoantibodies that are common in type 1 diabetes. These tests help your doctor distinguish between type 1 and type 2 diabetes when the diagnosis is uncertain. The presence of ketones — byproducts from the breakdown of fat — in your urine also suggests type 1 diab Continue reading >>
Diabetes First Aid Kits
It's a good idea to have a diabetes 'first aid' kit for times of highs, lows and in emergencies People with diabetes have lengthy lists of medication, equipment and devices to keep track of. This is why it can be so useful to have first aid kits. Having first aid kits at home, when going out, and for dramatic changes in blood glucose levels can be easy to prepare and useful in potentially serious situations. Depending on where you are, there are a number of emergency kits you can set up for yourself. A hypo and hyper kit can be kept on your person at home, and when youre out. You should make sure you replenish supplies when they are low so you dont run out when you need them. Your blood glucose meter - including extra test strips and lancets Fast-acting glucose, such as an energy drink (e.g. Lucozade) and/or tablets Medical identification - such as an identity card, if you choose not to wear any A popular product for hypos are GlucoTabs. Buy GlucoTabs from the Diabetes Shop . Your blood glucose meter - including extra test strips and lancets Spare insulin vials for injections (but only if you can store these in a fridge) Ketone testing strips - if you take insulin While most of your medication will be stored at home, some things will not be appropriate for a first aid kit. Insulin, for example, should be kept in the fridge. Additionally, you should keep your first aid kit away from rooms with heat and humidity, such as the bathroom, and store them in a room where the kit is easy to reach. Items in this kit should be reviewed at least twice a year and you should replace anything expired, or close to expiring. Additional testing supplies, such as strips and lancets Extra batteries for your meter, continuous glucose monitor or insulin pump You only need to consider the es Continue reading >>
Diabetes Supplies To Have When You Leave Home
Diabetes Supplies to Have When You Leave Home Diabetes Supplies to Have When You Leave Home Diabetes travel kits are important to have on hand whether you are going across the country or across town. The only difference is the quantity of supplies you take along. Unfortunately, most people with diabetes do not leave home prepared to deal with the range of situations they might confront. So, what are those essential diabetes supplies that you should always have within reach? Here is a checklist. Glucose meter . Your glucose meter should be with you at all times, even if you are just going to the grocery store. You never know when you night need to check your blood sugar. Extra battery for meter (and insulin pump if you use one). You dont want your meter to lose battery power right before you sit down to nice meal at your favorite restaurant. Glucose meter batteries differ by manufacturer. Learn the type of battery your meter uses and keep a spare in your testing kit. Insulin pumps will typically let you know when your battery is low, but it doesnt hurt to carry a spare. Test strips. Always keep an ample supply of test strips with you in case you need to test more frequently than you anticipate. Lancing device and lancets. Carry at least the number of lancets needed for an entire day of testing. It is preferable to not reuse a lancet since it is not sterile after a single use and is more dull, which increases the discomfort. Insulin. If the weather is warm, you might also want to include an insulated bag with some cold packs to keep your insulin cool. Syringes (or other insulin delivery device). If you are using syringes, take at least the average number you would need for an entire day, preferably more. Keytone strips. You may only use these rarely while away from home Continue reading >>
Free Kit For Children Newly Diagnosed With Type 1 Diabetes
Is your child newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes? Then you may be interested in a Courage-Wisdom-Hope Kit, providing “help and hugs for families.” To help kids with Type 1 and their loved ones adjust, the kit includes a parent guide, kid’s interactive guide, sibling guide, drawstring bag for a meter and other supplies, and a write-on magnet and pen for keeping track of emergency contacts. While the kit cannot take the place of seeing a health-care provider, it is intended to help fill in some of the blanks. To order your free kit, call (800) DIABETES (342-2383), Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM ET, or order the kit online. This blog entry was written by Senior Digital Editor Diane Fennell. Continue reading >>
Emergency Preparedness: Diabetes Emergency Kit
Recently, Hurricane Harvey has disastrously impacted Texas, including individuals with chronic medical conditions and disabilities. One man in particular recently shared his story of escaping the hurricane and wading through dangerous waters to retrieve his diabetes medications. When disaster strikes whether it be a hurricane, earthquake, power outage or other emergency situation, preparedness is key. It’s important to become educated on the potential consequences of disaster situations as well as developing an emergency kit and disaster plan. We recommend organizing a minimum of 7 days worth of supplies for a disaster situation for yourself and all the members of your family including pets. Develop an Emergency Plan Develop a comprehensive plan for emergency situations. Some important factors to consider: Communication Plan: How will you connect with family, friends, and doctors? Disaster Plan: Determine safe places in your home, family meeting spots, and what you’ll do if disaster strikes. Make a disaster kit: Include all the items you’ll need in the event of an emergency. Continuing reading to see our full list! Prepare to Stay and to Evacuate When developing your emergency kit and plan, it’s important to consider two main scenarios. Firstly, you may be trapped in your home for an extended period of time. Do you have enough supplies in place in the event you’re unable to travel to a store? What if stores are out of supplies? Do you have everything you would need to stay in your home for an extended period of time? Particularly consider you should pay special attention to what you would need if you didn’t have power or running water in your home. Secondly, consider the items that you would need to take with you if you were forced to evacuate. How are you g Continue reading >>
Jdrf T1d Care Kit
The JDRF T1D Care Kit is a free resource providing information and tools to educate, support and inspire newly diagnosed adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D). A sling-style bag contains an Ascensia Contour® Next meter, Contour® Choice card and educational inserts, Medtronic educational resources and CalorieKing book provided by Medtronic, a set of Novo Nordisk measuring bowls and educational kit, coupon for discounts on Novo Nordisk insulin and JDRF’s Adult Type 1 Toolkit. The JDRF T1D Care Kit is most helpful for adults diagnosed with T1D in the past year. Only available for adults (16 and above) who reside in the United States. Live outside the US? Thank You to Our Sponsors The T1D Care Kit is made possible through a national collaboration with Ascensia Diabetes Care, Medtronic and Novo Nordisk. Was this helpful? Online Diabetes Support Team JDRF volunteers are available to answer your questions about type 1 diabetes and get you through this difficult time. Ask a question. T1D Connections Program All JDRF Outreach Volunteers not only have personal experience living with T1D, they are carefully selected by JDRF and given ongoing training to help provide you the very best support. Learn More. Continue reading >>
Diabetes Care Kit For Dolls
Inventory may fluctuate and cannot be guaranteed. This set comes with a variety of pretend doll-sized tools to help girls care for their Truly Me dolls with diabetes. It includes: An insulin pump that can be clipped to a doll's waistband, plus an adhesive to attach the infusion set An insulin pen, for dolls that aren't using the pump A special case for the supplies, plus an ID card By clicking "Sign up" you are agreeing to receive emails and notifications from American Girl. Please read our PRIVACY STATEMENT and TERMS AND CONDITIONS when you visit our site. Copyright 2018 American Girl. All American Girl marks are trademarks of American Girl. 1Save up to 65% off clearance items by combining clearance price discount and promotional code. Save up to 50% off clearance items through 5/31/18 or while supplies last; promotional quantities may be limited. Save an additional 15% with promo code 15MORE through 5/31/18 or while supplies last; promotional quantities may be limited. Offer valid only at American Girl online and U.S. American Girl retail stores. Not valid at Amazon, Kohls, Toys R Us, or Barnes & Noble retail locations or websites. No refunds or adjustments on previous purchases, returns or exchanges, or orders in progress that have not yet shipped. We reserve the right to limit order and item quantities. Unfortunately, the offer will not be extended if you are unable to order due to technical issues. 2Flat-rate US standard shipping of $5.95 with a purchase of $100 or more. Offer valid through 11:59 p.m. Central Time on 5/31/2018 on phone, mail, fax, and americangirl.com orders with valid offer code. To redeem this offer at americangirl.com, enter the offer code in the box marked offer code in your shopping bag or at checkout. Flat-rate shipping of $5.95 and savings Continue reading >>
American Girl's Terrific New Diabetes Care Kit For Dolls - Now Available!
American Girl's Terrific New Diabetes Care Kit for Dolls - Now Available! Twitter summary: American Girl adds diabetes care kit to its doll accessories Two years after an 11-year-old girl newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes created a petition on Change.org asking American Girl to create diabetic accessories for American Girl dolls, the company has released a diabetes care kit for its line of Truly Me dolls. The $24 set , which includes a toy glucose monitor, an insulin pump and pen, glucose tablets, a medical ID bracelet and more, is a welcome addition to American Girls expanding set of accessories for dolls that are designed to help girls express themselves . According to the Huffington Post , American Girl also sells wheelchairs, hearing aids, allergy-free lunches, service dogs, and dolls without hair, representing other needs children might have and conditions they may face. In the future, we even wonder if the dolls glucose meter could have customizable blood glucose readings to reflect the changing nature of glucose levels in people with diabetes! While the diabetes care kit's description doesnt specify whether it is explicitly designed for girls with type 1 diabetes, the medical ID bracelet included does indicate Type 1 Diabetes. Although the incidence of type 1 diabetes is much greater in children than that of type 2 diabetes (in 2009, it was estimated that there were over 18,000 children newly diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S., compared to 5,000 children newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes), we cant ignore the rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes in children the last 15 years, in tandem with the childhood obesity epidemic. We'd love to see a doll that also incorporatestype 2 diabetes in the future. A special thank you to Dr. Nicole Johnson for helping influ Continue reading >>
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The On-the-go T1d Kit
The “T1D On-The-Go Kit” is the extra back-up of supplies that you may need if your car breaks down or you’ve forgotten something when you’re on the go — it could be for a sporting event from home, in the car for your work commute, at the studio, gym or any other place you frequent. It is not intended for long duration emergency care that you find in the Natural Disaster Emergency Kit. This kit should go with you when you’re on the move and used in the event that you need something extra. Remember: Use any bag that is easy to identify, secure and has enough space to hold everything. You may consider getting a waterproof or insulated bag. It is a good idea to label your bag with name and medical ID as well as contact details. Consider getting a system like Tile to keep track of your bag and locate it in case it gets lost. Diabetes Travel Essentials The go-to device for testing your blood sugar levels. Insulin The American Diabetes Association recommends packing a 3-day supply. Include short-acting as well as long-acting insulin. When insulin is kept cool at the recommended temperature of 36° F – 46° F, it will last until its expiration date. Unrefrigerated insulin can be stored at a temperature between 59°F-86°F and may be effective up to 28 days. Don’t forget to rotate supplies so that your emergency kit does not contain expired products. A Cooler (Optional) Include 4 reusable ice packs to keep insulin cool. (FRIO makes insulin pouches that cool when submerged in water.) Never use insulin that has been frozen. Syringes and/ or Pen Needles Both deliver insulin; it depends on what’s your instrument of choice. If you are on a pump you should carry emergency needles and insulin vials, or an emergency pen in case of failure. Also, carry extra syringes fo Continue reading >>
Children With Diabetes - Diabetes Emergency Kit
There are many kinds of emergency situations that might present challenges to people with diabetes. Weather-related emergencies are the most common. In the winter, ice storms often knock out power. In the spring and summer, tornados, electrical storms, and hurricanes can cause serious damage. It makes sense for everyone with diabetes to have a diabetes emergency pack of supplies on hand, just in case. Here are some items that you might want to consider for your emergency kit: A good cold storage container with pre-made ice, in case of loss of electricity for a short period. A FRIO cooling pack to protect your insulin. FRIO packs do not need ice. Flashlights with many sets of extra batteries. Candles and matches to light the candles, in case the power outage outlasts the flashlight batteries. Extra glucose meter, extra insulin(s), glucagon, syringes, lancets, blood test strips, ketone test strips (blood or urine), alcohol wipes, insulin pump supplies (if you use a pump), CGM supplies, as well as non-diabetes medications such as anti-diarrhea medicine, anti-nausea medicine ( Zofran ODT is highly recommended), and pain medicine. Be sure to replenish these supplies frequently so that all supplies are within their use date. Consider storing a minimum of two weeks worth of supplies. Put this all in a waterproof sandwich bag or container. Emergency glucose to treat hypoglycemia . Unopened packages of glucose tablets are good for a very long time. Also know about Mini-Dose Glucagon Rescue for Hypoglycemia . A general first aid kit with bandages, etc. A spare battery for your blood test meter and insulin pump, if needed. For rechargeable devices, consider a mobile phone power pack -- just be sure to keep it charged. A current explanation of your diabetes management regimen, inc Continue reading >>
Eagle Scout Creates Survival Kits For Fellow Type 1 Diabetic Scouts
Eagle Scout creates survival kits for fellow Type 1 diabetic scouts Aug. 10, 2017 | Debbie Gardner Eagle Scout Daniel Godbout Jr. displays some of the essentials in his Diabetic Survival Kit designed to keep Type 1 diabetics safe and healthy while camping, hiking and doing other outdoor activities. Reminder Publications photo by Debbie Gardner BELCHERTOWN The seeds for the Diabetes Survival Kit Daniel Godbout Jrs Eagle Scout project were planted early with this young Type 1 diabetic. When I was diagnosed [in 2013], all my friends were saying you cant do this, you cant do that, youll never be able to do this because your body wont hold up to it, the recent high school graduate said. Godbout didnt buy into those assumptions. The two-sport high school athlete he played baseball and basketball and active Boy Scout found work-arounds to let him keep doing the things he loved, despite the medical demands of a chronic illness. Its all about tracking and balancing your [blood sugar] numbers, Godbout said of living with Type 1 diabetes. If your numbers are stable, theyre not as much of a hindrance to you. If your numbers were higher, theres more testing, more giving insulin, more monitoring. One of the biggest challenges for Godbout was keeping his blood sugars balanced during the rigorous lifestyle of an active Boy Scout which entails plenty of hiking, camping and backpacking. Thats where his Diabetic Survival Kit came in handy. When [my troop] went to Philmont [Scout Ranch] in New Mexico, we did an 86-mile hike in 11 days, and this was my savior, Godbout said. With this kit, it showed everybody that diabetes cant hold me back from doing what I love. His survival kit designed to help him be prepared to handle diabetes-related challenges in the great outdoors includes what Godb Continue reading >>
Tips On Creating A First-rate First-aid Kit
Tips on Creating a First-Rate First-Aid Kit What people with diabetes need to be prepared for emergencies When it comes to your health, preparing for the worst isnt pessimistic. Its smart. Thats why experts advise everyone to stash medical supplies for a rainy day. Or, you know, a day when youve just sliced your finger, sprained your ankle, or broken out in hives. A well-stocked first-aid kit is easy to prepare and useful in both minor and more serious emergencies. The bathroom may seem like the ideal spot to stash the essentials, but because of heat and humidity, its not the best place to keep medicine or many diabetes supplies. Instead, store your first-aid kit in a room where you spend a lot of time or in an easy-to-reach area of a closet. Creating your own kit is easy. Start with a waterproof container, then add the supplies listed ("In the Kit," below). As far as medications go, experts recommend adding baby aspirin to the mix, which can help during a heart attack. (After calling 911, chew four baby aspirin or one non-coated adult aspirin. Chewed aspirin works faster than swallowed pills.) Theres less of a consensus about other medications. Those that must be kept cold, such as insulin, dont need to be included. Others, such as cough syrup, ibuprofen, and antidiarrheal drugs, can be added to the mix. The tricky part is keeping items current. If youre going to put medications in there, anything that can potentially expire, you want to check that often, says David Berry, PhD, ATC, an athletic trainer, professor at Weber State University, and member of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council. He recommends reviewing the items in your first-aid kit at least twice a year and replacing anything that is expired. Also remember to refill the kit as you use items Continue reading >>
