Resources and Helpful Information

Managing diabetes can be even harder when you are dealing with a major storm, loss of electricity, and possible evacuation from your home. During an emergency crisis, it is critical for people with diabetes to have access to the medications and testing supplies needed to maintain proper blood glucose control, and to prevent serious sudden complications such as hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.

• Be Prepared - Build a “diabetes kit” before a disaster strikes. Download the Diabetes Preparedness Plan.
• Donate Supplies. If you have unexpired and unopened diabetes supplies, contact Insulin for Life USA for details.
• Health Care Providers. Hotline for physicians and health care providers aware of diabetes supply shortages: 1-314-INSULIN. 
• Open Pharmacies. Real-time updates for open pharmacies In hurricane-impacted regions find a list of open pharmacies in community.
• Help for People with Disabilities. Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies helps people with disabilities and the elderly to safety and provide immediate needs of durable medical equipment and supplies hotline, 1-800-626-4959.
• Find a Shelter. Live map of open shelters from the American Red Cross or 1-800-RED-CROSS

Customer Care Insulin Manufacturers

Lilly: 800-545-5979
Sanofi-Aventis: 800-633-1610
Novo Nordisk: 800-727-6500

Customer Care Insulin Pump Manufacturers

Omnipod/Insulet: 800-591-3455
Dexcom: 888-738-3646
Medtronic: 800-633-8766
Tandem Diabetes Care: 877-801-6901

Managing Insulin & Disgarding Sharps 

• Safely Storing Insulin - Important Details
• Switching Between Insulin Products During a Disaster - Information for Health Care Providers
• Discarding Sharps - Easy Ways to Safely Dispose Sharps During a Disaster

Health Insurance and Support Resources

• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service - www.cms.hhs.gov.
• Insure Kids Now! - Every state in the nation has a health insurance program for people under 18. This website is offered by the US Health and Human Services Department - 800-877-Kids-Now.  https://www.insurekidsnow.gov/
• Financial Help for Diabetes Care: NIDDK - Publication called “Financial Help for Diabetes Care” which offers programs, that may provide coverage for medical expenses for a person with diabetes. Read more
• www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/financialhelp
• Partnership for Prescription Assistance - Assistance program available to help offset the cost of supplies or prescription medicines 888-477-2669 
• https://www.pparx.org/prescription_assistance_programs/list_of_participating_programs

General Hurricane Resources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hurricane resources

• Department of Health and Human Services provides support services, HHS Disaster Distress Line 1-800-985-5990
• FEMA - Emergencies assistance in times of disaster. Download the FEMA app for weather alerts. https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes
• Hurricane Tracking - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). They also provide a Weather Radio with emergency alerts: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
• State Resources:  https://www.diabetesdisasterresponse.org/new-page/