Emergency Card for Diabetics: What to Include

A diabetes emergency card is one of the most useful pieces of paper a person with diabetes can carry. It tells first responders — paramedics, ER staff, even bystanders — three things they often need fast: that you have diabetes, what insulin or other medication you take, and what to do if your blood sugar is too low or too high. Done right, a wallet card prevents misdiagnoses, speeds up treatment, and in some cases changes the outcome entirely.

This guide walks through exactly what to write down, with realistic examples, plus a free template you can fill in and print in about three minutes. If you're ready to skip ahead, the diabetes emergency card page gives you the printable version directly.

Why a paper card matters for diabetes specifically

Severe low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can look like drunkenness, a stroke, or a seizure. A confused, sweating, slurring person who can't answer basic questions is sometimes treated as intoxicated until lab results come back — minutes that matter when glucose is dropping. A wallet card that says "I have Type 1 Diabetes — I may be hypoglycemic" short-circuits the guesswork.

On the other end, untreated Type 1 diabetes can develop into diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) within hours when insulin is missed. DKA is a medical emergency and changes how paramedics monitor and treat you en route to the hospital. The Mayo Clinic and CDC both emphasise that early recognition makes the biggest difference in outcomes — and early recognition is exactly what a card delivers.

Phones don't solve this. Phones die, lock, or get thrown clear of an accident. Phone-based Medical IDs (iPhone Health, Android emergency info) work when they work, but they don't work when the device is broken, dead, or the responder doesn't know the right gesture. A laminated card in a wallet works regardless.

The 8 things to put on a diabetes emergency card

1. Diagnosis — written exactly

"Type 1 Diabetes" or "Type 2 Diabetes." Be specific because the type changes treatment urgency. A Type 1 patient without insulin can develop DKA within a day; a Type 2 patient typically has more time. Write "Type 1" or "Type 2" in capitals at the top of the card — not buried in a list of conditions.

2. Current insulin — brand, type, and dose

Write your insulin exactly as your endocrinologist prescribed it. Examples that work well on a wallet card:

• "Lantus 20 units at 10pm"
• "Humalog 4–6 units with meals (carb counted)"
• "Tresiba 12 units once daily"

If you're on a sliding scale, just write the basic protocol — ER staff will ask follow-up questions if needed.

3. Other diabetes medications

Metformin, Ozempic (semaglutide), Jardiance (empagliflozin), Glipizide, Trulicity — list each with the dose. SGLT2 inhibitors like Jardiance and Farxiga can cause euglycemic DKA, which is harder to recognise because blood sugar isn't high. Listing them helps ER staff catch it earlier.

4. Insulin pump or CGM — brand and location

If you wear a Tandem t:slim X2, Omnipod, Medtronic 780G, or any other insulin pump, write the brand and approximately where the device sits on your body. Same for a Dexcom, Libre, or other continuous glucose monitor. Two reasons:

• Paramedics need to know to check the pump in case it's the cause of trouble (occlusion, dislodged cannula).
• For imaging (MRI), defibrillation, or chest compressions, the device may need to be paused or removed. The hospital can't do that without knowing it's there.

5. A short hypoglycemia plan

One line is enough. Examples:

• "If unconscious: give glucagon or IV dextrose."
• "If conscious and able to swallow: 15g fast-acting carbs (juice, glucose tablets)."

This is not legal medical advice and a paramedic will use their own judgment, but a clear written instruction saves time when seconds count.

6. Drug allergies

List every confirmed drug allergy. The ones that matter most in an emergency:

• Penicillin and related antibiotics
• Sulfa drugs
• Aspirin and NSAIDs
• Contrast dye (used in CT and angiograms)
• Latex (affects gloves and equipment)

For details on the general checklist, see our complete medical ID card checklist.

7. Emergency contact

Name, phone number, and relationship — choose someone who actually picks up the phone and knows your medical history. A second contact is a good idea. Avoid listing a contact who would be unreachable for hours (e.g. a partner who works night shifts).

8. Doctor / endocrinologist

Name and phone number of the person who actually prescribed your regimen. Hospitals will call them for guidance specific to your case — especially if you're on a non-standard pump program or experimental therapy.

What to leave OFF the card

A wallet card has limited space. Resist the urge to include:

• Medical history that's irrelevant in an emergency — e.g. previous surgeries from a decade ago that don't affect current care.
• Insurance card numbers — these belong on a separate card. They slow down what should be a quick read.
• HbA1c values or detailed lab results — ER staff will run their own tests; trends from your endocrinologist aren't actionable in the first ten minutes.
• Diet preferences — not relevant to acute treatment.

Wallet card or fridge card — you probably want both

A wallet card goes wherever you do — restaurants, gym, travel. It's what works if you collapse outside the home. A fridge card is what paramedics see when they arrive at your house and check the kitchen, which is standard practice in many EMS protocols.

The two cards complement each other: the wallet card has the essentials; the fridge card has more space for medication doses, doctor contacts, and care preferences. Our free generator creates both formats from a single set of details, plus a combined letter-sized PDF with cut lines if you want extra wallet copies for your jacket, car, or gym bag.

Pairing the card with other safety tools

A medical ID card is one layer. Other layers worth considering:

• Medical alert bracelet — always visible. First responders are trained to look for them. See our comparison of ICE card vs medical alert bracelet vs phone Medical ID.
• Phone Medical ID — takes 5 minutes to set up on iPhone or Android. Works when it works.
• CGM share / follow features — family or care partners can be notified if your CGM detects severe hypoglycemia.
• Glucagon kit at home and work — modern nasal options (Baqsimi) are easier for non-medical helpers to use than injectable kits.

Print your free diabetes emergency card

Our diabetes emergency card page generates a wallet-sized and fridge-sized PDF with the structure described above. It's free, takes about three minutes, and your data stays in your browser — no signup, no accounts, no servers storing your medical information.