Summer Time & the Livin’ is Easy ~ Unless there’s a hurricane & you’re diabetic!

REPOST from former blog My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

June 9, 2020

Hurricane Harvey – Houston Metro Area 
Images Credit: Kristin Coyle

Be Prepared!  It’s not just a motto for the scouts.  If you’re diabetic, and it’s hurricane season, you need to be prepared.  The National Hurricane Center designates June 1 – November 30 as the official dates of Hurricane Season.

If you’re living in the US, then you are probably aware that now “tis the season.”  Those of you who live along the Texas Gulf Coast probably cringe, along with me, when you think about it.  

This will be my first summer as a Type 2 Diabetic, so  I’m making my list and checking it twice.  I need to make sure we have all the normal things ready for hurricane season.  We have learned over the years that you need to keep two to three weeks of supplies on hand at all times.  

In 2008, when Hurricane Ike slammed into Galveston and Houston, we were without electricity for three weeks.  It was not pleasant, but thank goodness we were prepared.  

Hurricane Harvey – Houston Metro Area 
Images Credit: Kristin Coyle

When Hurricane Harvey hit in 2017, we were only without power for less than 24 hours.  (Living near NASA’s Mission Control may have had something to do with that.  We’ve been told we are on the same electrical grid as NASA, but I’m not positive about that.)

As you can see from my friend’s photos, as well as mine below, it’s a good idea to have your hurricane preparedness kit ready. And a great idea is to put it all in one of those clear plastic boxes, because if it DOES flood in your house, you can just float your box out with you when you evacuate.

This was my husband's drive to work.
Images: My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

More Hurricane Harvey Images –  from our neighborhood
Images: My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

Hurricane Harvey – this was my cousin’s front yard. We went to help them clean out from their kitchen. They had over three feet of water. It is still just heartbreaking to think of. She told me “all our worldly possessions were in our front yard.”  
Image Credit: Molly Deats, Dickinson, Texas

Over the years, we’ve learned that we need to keep these things on hand:

• Batteries for our lanterns
• Working lanterns (yep, checking to make sure the light bulbs are still working in them)
• Water
• A first aid kit and supplies – bandaids, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, etc. 
• Shelf stable foods/snacks
• Pet food
• Paper goods like toilet paper, paper towels, paper plates, and even plastic eating utensils. 
• Battery powered radio and tv – charged and ready to go.  Yes, we have a battery powered tv.  It’s crucial to know what’s going on.
• Battery charger for cell phones – charged and ready to go
• Cash – always have some spare cash – ATMs don’t work when there’s no electricity
• A full tank of gas

People don’t realize that when the electricity goes out, you can’t use the water because the water plants can’t purify the water for you!  So having those paper goods is important, because you won’t be cooking or washing dishes until it comes back on. 

I got a cool rechargeable backup battery power bank off of Amazon.  It is awesome.  I charge it once and can recharge my cell phone anywhere, getting full charges, multiple times.  We can even plug in two phones at once.  

If you click HERE, you can see the one that I got.  This is great for anytime that you might lose electricity, or just don’t have access to charge your phone in an electrical outlet.

The battery powered tv mentioned in my check list above is similar to one that I found on Amazon. Click HERE for that cool gadget.

Besides all of these normal things, this year I have to make sure that I’ve got plenty of supplies for my diabetes.

For me, that includes all of these things:

A  document that lists the following, placed in a zip lock baggie: 

• I’m Type 2 Diabetic
• my doctor’s name and phone number
• a list of all medications, allergies
• a copy of my most recent labs 
• names and phone numbers of important relatives
• a copy of my health insurance card
• a copy of my drivers license

My diabetes supplies — for me, that means my meter, a back up meter, and my test strips.

For others, that may mean your insulin or oral diabetic medications, a cooler and some cold packs to keep your insulin cold.  Also syringes and a container to put the used ones in.  Also, you may need items to treat your high or low blood sugar.

If you have insulin that needs to be refrigerated, and your electricity goes out, there’s also this cool gadget, which is an insulin cooler.  It can plug into a wall outlet, your car (cigarette charger – they really need to rename that!), or it can be battery powered.  Click HERE to see one on Amazon.  They are really affordable.  

I’m also going to make sure that I have on hand at all times, non-perishable foods that are diabetic friendly.  For me that means foods like 

• canned tuna
• canned chicken
• beans
• whole wheat saltine crackers
• peanut butter (the kind with no sugar or salt)
• nuts – almonds, walnuts, cashews, peanuts
• protein bars (zero sugar ones)
• steel cut oats
• Trivia (stevia)
• water, water, water!

If you would like to have a printable Diabetic Emergency Check List to use, click HERE.  

Emergency Check List 
Credit: My Diabetes Emergency Plan (see link above)

My hope for all of us is that we will dodge the hurricanes this year, but I’m not going to bank on hopes and dreams for missing it this year.  The weather folks are already saying that it’s going to be a busy season, and since it’s the first week of June, and there have already been three named storms , I’ll err on the side of caution, and BE PREPARED.

Thanks for stopping by to read my blog.  I hope that you’ll subscribe – top right corner of the page if on a desktop, and bottom of the post if using a mobile device.  

In the meantime, live well, and be well! AND BE PREPARED!    

*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.