Urgent Message from the American Diabetes Association

American Diabetes Association

Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by Hurricane Harvey, and our thoughts are with everyone who may be in the path of Hurricane Irma. Many in the diabetes community have contacted us and asked about our efforts and how to help.

Current Relief Efforts

Supplies
Convened by the American Diabetes Association, a partnership of seven leading diabetes care and research organizations have formed the Diabetes Emergency Relief Coalition to help provide critical diabetes supplies and support to regions impacted by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The Coalition includes us, JDRF, Insulin for Life USA, the Endocrine Society, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Association of Diabetes Educators and Research America. Together, we have shipped more than 4,000 pounds of free diabetes supplies to Houston and its surrounding towns, and the San Antonio and Austin communities. Our efforts in southeast Texas will continue, and we are preparing to support people in Puerto Rico and Florida. More information about the Coalition’s efforts is available here.

The Latest Resources & Information
While our work in Texas and Louisiana will continue, we have launched hurricane preparedness efforts in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina in advance of Hurricane Irma:

Our Center for Information, 1-800-DIABETES has extended phone hours daily including the weekend.
And, we have activated a new call center for physicians and health care providers to request diabetes supplies.
We have also launched a special online resource page, diabetes.org/hurricanerelief, which is updated regularly. The site already includes the latest shelter locations; information for people with diabetes and caregivers; information for emergency responders and relief personnel; how to donate unexpired and unopened diabetes supplies; and federal and state assistance resources.

Outreach
Our national and local staff, along with volunteers, have been making outreach calls to our community members to ensure they have the information needed to manage diabetes when access to their doctors and pharmacy may be limited or unavailable.

How You Can Help

Here are ways you can join in our efforts:

Donate Diabetes Supplies. Do you have extra, unexpired and unopened insulin pens, vials and cartridges, A1C Test Kit, KetoSticks, test strips or Glucagon? Click here for details on how to donate them.
Make a Gift. Our national team, as well as our local staff living in Texas, Louisiana and Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, will continue to work on efforts like this for as long as necessary, and your donation will support our hurricane relief efforts and the support that we are providing to assist all people impacted by diabetes in these hard-hit states.
Thank you to everyone for your support. Together, we are making a difference for so many.

With gratitude,

William T. Cefalu, MD
Chief Scientific, Medical & Mission Officer

P.S. Please share our Hurricane Update and Resources with anyone impacted by these devastating hurricanes.