The Importance of Emergency Preparedness: Lilly Diabetes and the American College of Endocrinology (ACE) Help Prep People with Diabetes for Emergencies - Big or Small

PHOENIX, May 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

News Highlights:

• ACE, Lilly Diabetes offer emergency tips for people w/ #diabetes at www.EmPowerYourHealth.org, tips now downloadable in Spanish
• Lilly Diabetes and ACE have distributed approximately 12 million #diabetes emergency prep checklists since '06 www.EmPowerYourHealth.org

A hurricane warning. A lengthy power outage. A mandatory evacuation. Do you know how to protect your health during these events? The American College of Endocrinology (ACE) and Lilly Diabetes will host a briefing at ACE's annual meeting today to help answer that question as part of a discussion on the importance of emergency planning for people with diabetes. This shared mission, one that began after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, led to the launch of the EmPower "My Diabetes Emergency Plan," a comprehensive checklist to help people with diabetes prepare in advance of emergency situations.

The program, first initiated in 2006, today highlights both severe weather emergencies and natural disasters as well as everyday unexpected events like power outages, car trouble and the last-minute trip out of town. In addition to tips in English and Spanish available for free download at www.EmPowerYourHealth.org, resources for the "My Diabetes Emergency Plan" now include a step-by-step how-to video for emergency kit preparation as well as video assets for local media and emergency planners to use as part of their advance warning systems.

Recent United States weather trends indicate that more frequent and intense weather patterns are affecting larger areas of the country—and impacting more people. Long-range forecasters are predicting an active severe storm season for 2013, and those who live from the Gulf of Mexico to the Midwest will be especially vulnerable. These situations can be particularly challenging for someone who has diabetes and may require insulin to manage their disease.

"Whether someone with diabetes is displaced by severe weather, or simply caught outside the home without access to supplies due to car trouble, having a kit prepared with essentials may make a difference in a person's ability to manage their health – even if it's just waiting for a tow truck," said Dr. Lawrence Blonde, endocrinologist, member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and fellow of ACE. "Our goal is to encourage people with diabetes to take steps in advance of an emergency to protect their health. It only takes a few minutes to prepare an emergency kit, and now with the added download availability of our checklist in Spanish, even more people can be ready."

In March, Lilly Diabetes and ACE reached out to another group interested in emergency planning. The "My Diabetes Emergency Plan" was featured at the 2013 National Hurricane Conference in New Orleans where emergency planners met to discuss strategies for preparing and supporting the nation during severe weather events. There the partnership was showcased to meeting participants including emergency medical service representatives, city planners, meteorologists, and public information officers to name a few, with program resources made available to all attendees for implementing in their local areas.

"Lilly Diabetes is committed to providing real solutions for people with diabetes to use in their everyday lives – particularly when their lives and their health might be threatened by the unexpected," said Dr. Jeffrey Jackson, endocrinologist, member of AACE, fellow of ACE, and senior medical adviser, Lilly Diabetes. "When weather events multiply and expand their path of destruction, it is our continued partnership with ACE that allows us to connect with even more people with diabetes so they can be prepared for any kind of an emergency that could put their health at risk."

When preparing an emergency kit in advance of severe weather or other potential emergency, ACE and Lilly Diabetes recommend gathering the following supplies (not a complete list):

• If possible, a 30-day supply of all medicines (check expiration dates)
• A list of all medications, medical conditions, allergies and past surgeries
• A letter from your endocrinologist outlining your diabetes care regimen
• Contact information for family members, physicians and pharmacy
• Blood sugar testing supplies
• Empty plastic bottles to store used syringes
• A source of carbohydrates to treat a low blood sugar reaction (like glucose tablets, juice boxes, or regular soda)
• Bottled water and several days' supply of non-perishable food
• First aid supplies

Since 2006, ACE and Lilly Diabetes have worked together to help people with diabetes weather every type of storm and emergency and have distributed approximately 12 million checklists nationwide. To access the full list of tips, download or order hard copies of the checklist, or to view supporting video resources, please visit www.EmPowerYourHealth.org.

About the American College of Endocrinology (ACE)
The American College of Endocrinology (ACE) is the educational and scientific arm of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE). ACE is the leader in advancing the care and prevention of endocrine and metabolic disorders by: Providing professional education and reliable public health information; Recognizing excellence in education, research and service; Promoting clinical research and Defining the future of Clinical Endocrinology. For more information, please visit www.aace.com.

About Lilly Diabetes
Lilly has been a global leader in diabetes care since 1923, when it introduced the world's first commercial insulin. Today Lilly works to meet the diverse needs of people with diabetes through research and collaboration, a broad and growing product portfolio and a continued commitment to providing real solutions—from medicines to support programs and more—to make lives better. For more information, visit www.lillydiabetes.com.

About Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY)
Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers—through medicines and information—for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Information about Lilly is available at www.lilly.com.

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SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company; American College of Endocrinology