Diabetes and disasters

People with diabetes need uninterrupted access to medicines and care. They need healthy food and a safe space to exercise. Caring for diabetes becomes even more difficult when a disaster or pandemic strikes. In these difficult circumstances, people with diabetes often struggle to manage their condition and are at increased risk of life-threatening complications. This can be improved by good pre-planning of the response to a disaster.

Natural disasters are common in the Western Pacific region. The IDF Western Pacific Region has developed the “IDF-WPR Natural Disaster Programme” to help ease and save the lives of people with diabetes in the region that are affected by natural disasters. 

First published in 2015, the “Diabetes Care and Disasters - IDF Western Pacific Region" manual identifies means to reduce the negative impact of natural disasters and promotes the sharing of knowledge to help individuals, communities and countries increase their resilience to natural disasters. The second edition (2022) is now available and includes substantial updates informed by recent disaster experience learnings.

• IDF WPR Diabetes Care and Disasters Manual 2nd Edition 2022 (pdf) 
• Disaster preparedness: are we ready to make a difference (presentation, pdf)

Other related articles and resources developed by IDF-WPR members are available for download at the links below.

Australia

Source: Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA)

• My diabetes emergency plan (pdf): Arabic - Chinese - English - Turkish - Vietnamese
• Managing your diabetes in an emergency (pdf): Arabic - Chinese - English - Turkish - Vietnamese
• The needs of people with diabetes and other chronic conditions in natural disasters (pdf)

China

Source: Chinese Diabetes Society

• Diabetes Care Related Response to Natural Disasters in China (pdf)

Japan

Source: Journal of Diabetes Investigation

• Diabetes Care Providers’ Manual for Disaster Diabetes Care
• Diabetes care: After the Great East Japan Earthquake

Korea

Source: Kidney Research and Clinical Practice

• Disaster preparedness for earthquakes in hemodialysis units in Gyeongju and Pohang, South Korea

Covid-19

Source: Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice

• The Australian response to the COVID-19 pandemic and diabetes – Lessons learned
• Diabetes and COVID-19: IDF perspective in the Western Pacific region