Summer can be a time for lots of outdoor activities and for relaxing with family and friends. But the warmer months also pose special challenges to people with diabetes; for example, high heat and humidity can affect your ability to control your blood sugar levels, and may require more diligence to stay hydrated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published a set of recommendations to help people with diabetes prepare for the higher temperatures of summer.
High heat, especially along with high humidity, is uncomfortable for everyone, but for people with diabetes it can pose a real health threat. Fluid loss associated with high blood sugar and certain diabetes medications is compounded by extra fluid loss due to high heat conditions, making it harder to stay hydrated. In addition, both type 1 and type 2 diabetes cause changes in the body’s ability to stay cool at the core, increasing the risk of heat-related health problems like heat stroke. The risks go down if you maintain an active lifestyle and keep your blood sugar levels well controlled all year.
Some diabetes medications, like insulin, function differently in high heat, making blood sugar control more challenging. Diabetes-related medical supplies, like glucose meters, also function differently in high heat, which can cause a false glucose reading. The CDC has the following recommendations to help people with diabetes stay healthy in hot weather:
If you experience any of these symptoms during a time of high heat, stop any physical activity, get to a cooler place, and drink water. If your symptoms worsen or persist for more than an hour, or if you have a fever of 104°F (40°C) or higher, seek immediate medical attention.
(Plan for Diabetes Care in Heat & Emergencies. CDC. www.cdc.gov/Features/DiabetesHeatTravel/)
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