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ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Convened by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), a coalition of eight leading diabetes care and research organizations continue, through their Diabetes Emergency Relief Coalition (DERC), to help provide critical diabetes supplies to regions impacted by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. As relief efforts proceed and lack of electricity and running water continue to leave individuals without access to necessary medicines and diabetes supplies including insulin, the members of DERC are working diligently with local volunteers and organizations to identify needs, and to help provide care and supplies. The most significant and accessible resources are two national phone lines for assistance:

• 1-800-DIABETES for individuals with diabetes care needs; and
• 1-314-INSULIN for physicians and health care providers to request diabetes supplies.

ADA's Center for Information, 1-800-DIABETES, continues with extended phone hours through the weekend to assist anyone in need:

• 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET (9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. CT) this Saturday and Sunday, September 16 and 17; and
• 8:30 a.m. ET to 8:00 p.m. ET (7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CT), Monday through Friday.

The 1-314-INSULIN supply request hotline is staffed by members of the DERC and open daily from 9:00 a.m. ET to 6:00 p.m. ET.

Please check diabetes.org/hurricanerelief for the latest information.

Information includes specific resources for support in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and other islands in the Caribbean including the U.S. Virgin Islands, and these:

• How to donate unexpired and unopened diabetes supplies to Insulin for Life USA
• Link to list of open pharmacies in the hurricane-impacted regions (Please note, this website is updated regularly.)
• Live map of open shelters from the American Red Cross, or 1-800-RED-CROSS
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hurricane resources
• Department of HHS support services, HHS Disaster Distress Line 1-800-985-5990
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

During an emergency crisis such as this, it is critical for people with diabetes to have access to the medications and testing supplies needed to maintain proper blood glucose control, and to prevent serious sudden complications such as hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia¹.

The Diabetes Emergency Relief Coalition, convened by the American Diabetes Association, includes JDRF, Insulin for Life USA, Endocrine Society, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American Association of Diabetes Educators, Research! America and T1D Exchange. For more information about the DERC, click here.

¹ W Cefalu et. al. The Hurricane Katrina Aftermath and Its Impact on Diabetes Care. Diabetes Care 29:1, 158-160.http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/29/1/158.

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SOURCE American Diabetes Association