A 72-hour supply plan
What emergency planners recommend keeping ready.
Not yet medically reviewed. Talk to your care team before changing your routine.
Storms, power cuts, wildfires and evacuations don't give much warning. Emergency planners such as Ready.gov suggest being able to manage on your own for at least several days. With diabetes, that means a ready-to-go kit of supplies and information. Diabetes organizations publish fuller checklists, and some suggest planning for longer than three days.
The supply kit
Pack enough of everything for at least three days, plus a margin: insulin (kept as cool as possible), pen needles or syringes, pump sets or pods and their supplies, CGM sensors, a meter with strips and lancets, ketone strips if your care team uses them, and fast-acting low treatments. Add any glucagon you've been prescribed. Include the backup plan from your care team for giving insulin if your pump stops working, and the supplies to follow it.
Power and cooling
Add a charged power bank, the right cables, and spare batteries for any device that uses them. Pack a cooling pouch or a small cooler and gel packs that can be frozen ahead of time. Our guide on storing insulin during a power outage covers what to do if the fridge goes off.
The information kit
In a waterproof bag, keep a written list of your medications and doses, pump and CGM settings, your care team's contact details, your pharmacy, insurance cards, and an emergency contact. Phones die and apps can be unavailable, so paper matters. A medical ID bracelet or wallet card helps if you can't speak for yourself.
Keep it fresh
Supplies expire. Put a reminder on your calendar every few months to check expiration dates, rotate insulin and glucagon, and swap in newer sensors. Use the older stock in daily life so nothing goes to waste.
If you have to leave
Grab the kit, plus any insulin from the fridge in a cooler. Tell shelter staff or responders that you have diabetes and what you need. If you can't get insulin or supplies, emergency pharmacy programs and diabetes disaster hotlines exist for exactly this. Search for them now and save the numbers in your kit.
Sources
- Ready.gov (FEMA) — Build a Kit (ready.gov/kit)
- Diabetes Disaster Response Coalition — Diabetes Preparedness Plan and Checklist (diabetesdisasterresponse.org)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Diabetes Care During Emergencies (cdc.gov/diabetes)
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration — Information Regarding Insulin Storage and Switching Between Products in an Emergency (fda.gov)
Educational content only. Diabetes Collective does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk with your care team before changing your diabetes management.