

Diabetes and Disasters: Emergency Preparedness
Tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes- you name it, we are seeing it somewhere in the world. During such a disaster, life as you know it will (at least temporarily) cease to exist. Routines will be disrupted, families will be uprooted, and living conditions may become quite different. Therefore, advanced planning for such emergencies NOW will make a great difference THEN. Hopefully, you will never need an emergency preparedness kit, but better safe than sorry. Basic emergency pr


Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Non-Ketoacidosis (HHNK)
Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic non-ketoacidosis (HHNK) or simply non-ketoacidotic coma, is a serious acute complication of diabetes. It is considered a life-threatening emergency, and has known mortality rates as high as 5-20%. HHNK is commonly seen in persons with type 2 diabetes who are experiencing an illness (fever or urinary tract infection are common) that somehow leads to a decreased fluid intake. This can be either a decreased perception of thirst as sometimes seen in an