Summertime – Living with Diabetes

People who have diabetes feel the heat of summer more than people who do not, there are a few important reasons this happens:

A diabetic person can dehydrate faster, so if you are not drinking enough liquids it can raise their blood sugar levels. Vice versa, high blood sugar can make you urinate more, causing dehydration.

High temperatures can change how your body uses insulin. You may need to test your blood sugar more often and adjust your insulin dose as well as what you eat and drink.

Here are a few things you can do that might help:

1. Drink plenty of water—even if you are not thirsty—so you do not get dehydrated.

2. Avoid alcohol and drinks with caffeine, like coffee and energy or sports drinks. They can lead to water loss and spike your blood sugar levels.

3. Check your blood sugar before, during, and after you are active. You may need to change how much insulin you use. Ask your doctor if you would like help in adjusting your dosage.

4. Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing.

5. Wear sunscreen and a hat when you are outside. Sunburn can raise your blood sugar levels.

6. Don’t go barefoot, even on the beach or at the pool.

7. Use your air conditioner or go to an air-conditioned building or mall to stay cool. In very high heat, a room fan won’t cool you enough.

8. Heat can damage your blood sugar monitor, insulin pump, and other diabetes equipment. Do not leave them in a hot car, by a pool, in direct sunlight, or on the beach.

MediSure Canada offers everything you need to stay on top of your glucose management. If you find taking your sugar reading painful, there are other options. For example, the Genteel lancing device can painlessly extract a single drop of blood for quick, easy testing.

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This advice comes from the cdc website: https://bit.ly/3hwMEuF