Disasters

Last updated: 12 Aug 2025

Australia’s diverse climate and geography mean it can be susceptible to various natural disasters, including bushfires, floods, extreme heatwaves, and severe storms. For older adults living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), such events present additional and significant risks. This is due to the critical reliance on insulin, specific dietary requirements, the need for regular monitoring, and potential disruptions to power, communication, and access to essential services. This page provides crucial guidance on preparing for emergencies and managing T1D effectively should a disaster occur.

Disasters tend to disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Older individuals with T1D face compounded risks because of their medical dependencies and potential age-related frailties, such as reduced mobility or cognitive challenges, which can make disaster preparedness and response more difficult. T1D management requires an uninterrupted supply of insulin, monitoring equipment, and appropriate nutrition. Disasters can disrupt these critical elements by affecting supply chains, power for refrigeration and device charging, communication lines for seeking help, and access to healthcare. This combination of factors places older T1D patients at a heightened risk of acute diabetes emergencies (like severe hypoglycaemia, hyperglycaemia, or Diabetic Ketoacidosis) and the worsening of other chronic conditions during and after such an event. Therefore, detailed, practical preparedness guidance is not merely helpful but can be life-saving.

Why Disasters Pose Extra Risks for People with T1D

Several factors make disaster situations particularly hazardous for individuals with T1D:

• Insulin Storage: Insulin must be kept cool (refrigerated but not frozen). Power outages, common during disasters, can compromise insulin viability if alternative cooling methods are not available.
• Access to Supplies: Pharmacies may be closed or inaccessible, roads can be blocked, and regular supply chains disrupted, making it difficult to obtain insulin, test strips, or other essential items.
• Food and Water: Disruption to regular meals can severely affect blood glucose levels. Access to suitable food and clean drinking water may be limited, and specific dietary needs for diabetes management might be hard to meet in an emergency setting.
• Stress and Illness: The stress of a disaster situation, as well as any associated illness or injury, can significantly elevate blood glucose levels.
• Evacuation: The need to evacuate, potentially quickly, requires having all essential diabetes supplies packed and ready. Mobility issues, common in older adults, can complicate the evacuation process.
• Communication: Disruption to phone lines, mobile networks, or internet access can impede the ability to seek help, contact healthcare providers, or receive emergency information.
• Impact on Monitoring Devices: Devices like CGMs and insulin pumps require power for charging, which may be unavailable.

Creating a Diabetes-Specific Emergency Kit

A dedicated, easily accessible emergency kit is essential. This kit should be checked regularly (e.g., every 3-6 months) to ensure supplies are in date and equipment is working.

Essential Items for Your Kit:

• Insulin: A sufficient supply for at least 3-7 days, stored in an insulated cooler bag with cold packs (ensure insulin does not freeze). Consider a Frio cooling wallet if power is a concern.
• Insulin Delivery Supplies: Syringes, pen needles, and/or insulin pump supplies (infusion sets, reservoirs, spare pump batteries).
• Blood Glucose Monitoring: Blood glucose meter, plenty of test strips, lancets, and spare batteries for the meter.
• Ketone Monitoring Supplies: Ketone test strips (blood or urine) if part of the usual management plan, especially for sick days.
• Hypoglycaemia Treatment: Fast-acting glucose such as glucose tablets, glucose gel, jelly beans, or small cartons of fruit juice.
• Carbohydrate Snacks: Longer-acting carbohydrate snacks like muesli bars or dried fruit for managing blood glucose between meals or if meals are delayed.
• Glucagon: If prescribed (especially for those at risk of severe hypoglycaemia), ensure it is in date and that a family member or carer knows how to administer it.
• Medication List: A current list of all medications (including non-diabetes ones), doses, and prescribing doctor’s contact details.
• Identification: NDSS card, Medicare card, and a medical alert bracelet or necklace indicating T1D.
• Water: A supply of bottled water.
• Other items: Antiseptic wipes, a first-aid kit, a torch with spare batteries, a portable radio, and any personal hygiene items.

Store this kit in a waterproof container in an easily accessible location, known to family members.

Planning for Different Types of Disasters

Consider the specific risks in the local area:

• Bushfires: Have an evacuation plan. Be aware that smoke and poor air quality can affect respiratory health, which in turn can impact blood glucose levels. Know your safer places.
• Floods: Protect medications and supplies from water damage. Be aware of the risk of infections from contaminated water.
• Heatwaves: Focus on staying cool and hydrated, as extreme heat can affect blood glucose levels and insulin sensitivity. Insulin can also degrade more quickly in heat. Older adults are at higher risk of dehydration.
• Power Outages: Plan for insulin storage (e.g., cooler bags, Frio wallets, pre-frozen gel packs). Ensure charging plans for CGMs, insulin pumps, or mobile phones used for diabetes management apps.

During an Emergency

• Monitor Blood Glucose Frequently: Check levels more often than usual, as stress, changes in activity, and food intake can cause fluctuations.
• Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water, especially during heatwaves or if experiencing high blood glucose.
• Meal Plan Adherence: Try to stick to the usual meal plan as much as possible. If regular foods are unavailable, choose the best available options and adjust insulin if necessary, with caution.
• Evacuation: If advised to evacuate, do so early. Take the diabetes emergency kit. Inform emergency personnel or shelter staff about the T1D condition and any specific needs.
• Stay Informed: Listen to official advice and warnings through the VicEmergency app, website (emergency.vic.gov.au), and ABC local radio.

After an Emergency

Replenish Kit: Restock any used items in the emergency kit as soon as possible. Medical Check-up: See a doctor if there were significant difficulties managing diabetes during the emergency, or if health has been affected. Review Plan: Reflect on what worked well and what could be improved in the emergency plan for future events. While individual preparedness is key, it is also important for community and emergency services to be aware of the specific needs of people with diabetes during disasters to provide appropriate support.

Key Takeaways

• A well-prepared, diabetes-specific emergency kit, kept in an easily accessible place, is crucial.
• Develop plans for managing insulin and essential supplies during power outages or if evacuation is necessary.
• Stay informed by monitoring official Victorian emergency channels for advice and warnings.

Where to Get Help in Victoria (During Emergencies)

• VicEmergency: For current warnings and information: emergency.vic.gov.au or the VicEmergency app.
• Emergency Broadcasters: ABC local radio is an official emergency broadcaster.
• State Emergency Service (SES) Victoria: For assistance during floods, storms, and other emergencies where SES is the control agency: 132 500.