By Laura Keiley, RN, Diabetes Educator
Summertime can present many challenges to caring for your health if you have diabetes. The heat, barbeques, and summer fun activities require extra precautions to avoid overheating, dehydration, sunburn, injury, and overindulging in ways that can impede your efforts to manage your diabetes well.
High summer temperatures, especially in combination with high humidity, can put people living with diabetes at risk for heat stroke and heat exhaustion which are medical emergencies. Because of nerve and blood vessel damage that are complications of diabetes, your sweat glands may not function properly. Sweating cools the body down. If you don’t sweat adequately, it raises your risk of overheating. Even if you do sweat normally, on humid days the sweat can’t evaporate and cool you down which can also lead to overheating. It is important to take steps to stay cool in the summer heat – find shade when you can, drink plenty of water, stay indoors in air-conditioning on very hot days if possible, and wear light, loose-fitting clothing.
Having diabetes puts you at higher risk for becoming dehydrated. When blood sugar is high, one of the symptoms is frequent and excessive urination which can lead to dehydration. When you are dehydrated, your blood sugar increases because it is not diluted with enough water. If you have diabetes, staying cool and drinking plenty of water to avoid further dehydration is very important.
Diabetes medications, and blood sugar test strips and supplies lose effectiveness when exposed to sunlight and heat. It is very important not to leave them in a hot car or in a place where they will be exposed to high temperatures.
Sunburn is another hazard for you if you live with diabetes. Sunburn causes inflammation which puts stress on the body. This causes the production of stress hormones (such as cortisol) which raise blood sugar and cause further insulin resistance as the body tries to heal. Taking precautions to avoid sunburn is important – stay in the shade whenever possible, wear protective clothing, wear wide-brimmed hats, and don’t forget to always wear sunscreen and reapply it frequently.
Exercise is a key component to managing diabetes. If you exercise outdoors in the summer, try to avoid the hottest times of the day. Exercise early in the morning and in the evening when it is usually cooler, and drink plenty of water before, during, and after exercise.
Summer fun, like taking trips to the beach, require extra precautions too. Wearing flip-flops, sandals, or going barefoot are not recommended for people with diabetes. Due to nerve and vessel damage, you are at increased risk of a foot injury which might go unnoticed and perhaps become infected. It’s important to wear comfortable, well-fitting socks and shoes at all times to protect your feet, and remember to inspect your feet daily for any blisters, abrasions, or injury.
Summer BBQs and parties can present challenges to the diet of someone with diabetes. These events often have an abundance of sugary drinks and treats, high carbohydrate foods, as well as fried, fatty foods, all which have an adverse effect on blood sugar, weight, and diabetes management. To help prevent overindulgence and high blood sugar, eat a healthy, well-balanced, and satisfying meal before you attend the gathering. You won’t be as tempted to overindulge in unhealthy food. Also, plan what you will eat ahead of time and try to stick to your plan. You can also bring a healthy dish or snack from home that is diabetes-friendly to the BBQ.
Although you have diabetes, have a fun-filled and healthy summer. Simply remember to take the proper precautions. Stay cool and enjoy!
References:
Managing Diabetes in the Heat/Features/CDC
Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/features/diabetesheattravel/index.html
Laura Keiley is a Registered Nurse and Diabetes Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County’s Family Health and Wellness Program.