Notes for diabetics when it's hot
People with diabetes should drink plenty of water, exercise in the morning, may need to see a doctor because of the impact of weather on blood sugar.
Recently, the temperature has increased, making many people feel rancid and uncomfortable. People with chronic conditions such as type 1 and type 2 diabetes may feel hotter than usual. This is because people with diabetes can suffer damage to blood vessels and nerves, affecting their sweat glands, making it difficult for the body to cool effectively. If the body's cooling system has to work continuously or the person suffers from heatstroke, it can be serious and require emergency care.
People with diabetes tend to lose fluids faster when the temperature is high. While lack of fluids can raise blood sugar levels, causing the body to excrete more urine, causing more dehydration. Besides, the symptoms of this disease are often thirst, frequent urination, accompanied by the impact of weather will increase these conditions. In addition, taking diuretics or other drugs to treat high blood pressure or diabetes can also make the body dehydrated.
Elevated temperatures can also affect how the body processes insulin. If you are taking insulin in hot weather, you may need to monitor your blood sugar more often and change your insulin dose. Combined with a healthy, balanced diet with medication, blood sugar control is more stable.
Even when the temperature drops, the effects of heat and humidity can cause various problems. Hot weather or when the muscles generate too much heat due to intense exercise makes the body sweat more than usual. When sweat on the skin evaporates, it has a cooling effect on the body. But if the humidity is high, the moisture on the skin does not dry quickly, which will interrupt the cooling cycle.
Diabetics should drink enough water, exercise early in the morning. Photo: Freepik
Exercise is important for good control of diabetes. However, exercising in hot weather, when the temperature is high, is not good for health. If before, you used to exercise in the morning or evening, but due to the hot weather, the night temperature no longer drops as quickly as before. Therefore, people with diabetes may consider exercising early in the morning, rather than in the evening.
To control diabetes on summer days, patients should drink plenty of water, about 2-2.5 liters of water, even if they do not feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages, which can dehydrate you and cause a rapid rise in blood sugar. Checking blood sugar levels before, during, and after exercise helps avoid sudden spikes or drops in blood sugar. If using insulin, the patient may need to change the amount of insulin and should consult a doctor for advice on the appropriate dose, to avoid dangerous complications.
Wearing light, loose, breathable clothing is a way for the body to cool down better. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat and applying sunscreen when outdoors helps prevent sunburn. Patients should avoid going barefoot, even at the pool or beach. Foot care is essential because people with this disease often have foot ulcers, infections that take a long time to heal. Complications are also common in this group of people with chronic diseases.
Patients should stay in an air-conditioned room on hot days because when the outdoor temperature is high, the fan will not cool enough. If the house loses power on sunny days, it is advisable to go to a cooler place. Medicines, supplies and equipment should be kept away from heat sources. Preparing diabetes healthcare supplies, snacks and other emergency needs for heat stroke, high or low blood sugar are also things to keep in mind.