title: The effect of extensive flooding in Hull on the glycaemic control of patients with diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the impact of extensive flooding in a UK city in 2007 on the glycaemic control of patients with diabetes mellitus.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a longitudinal study in patients with diabetes mellitus 12 months before and after the floods in Hull and East Yorkshire, UK. All patients registered with diabetes mellitus were sent questionnaires about their experiences during and after the floods. Glycaemic control for patients directly affected by the floods was compared against those unaffected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1743 respondents, 296 patients had been affected by the floods (110 insulin treated, 186 lifestyle and oral agents) and 1447 unaffected (482 insulin treated, 965 lifestyle and oral agents). There was a rise in mean HbA(1c) of affected individuals comparing 12 months before the floods with 12 months after [mean (95% confidence interval), 7.6% (7.5-7.7) vs. 7.9% (7.7-8.0), P = 0.002], but not those unaffected [7.5% (7.4-7.6) vs. 7.5% (7.4-7.6), P = 0.46]. The difference was mainly in insulin-treated patients [8.6% (8.3, 8.9) affected vs. 8.2% (8.1, 8.3) unaffected, (P = 0.002)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Glycaemic control deteriorated in diabetes patients following the floods but was almost exclusively confined to patients taking insulin and was worst at 6-9 months following the event. Insulin-treated patients may need specific targeting in the event of a natural disaster.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Centre, Michael White Centre, Hull Royal Infirmary Academic, University of Hull, Hull, UK. jmng76@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Atkin
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Rigby
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kilpatrick
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D055868:Floods; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin