Here’s How Heat and Summer Affect Diabetics… and Insulin Pens
One of the most difficult times for diabetics is summer. And that is what Both the heat and the change in habits typical of these dates can alter blood levels. glucose in blood what does this mean for the health of these patients.
Connected
As he explains Dr. Manuel GargalloMember of the Diabetes Section of the Spanish Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition (SEEN):
- People with diabetes more susceptible to ‘heat stroke’ with prolonged exposure to high temperatures, since changed the biological control over mechanisms adapt to extreme temperatures and are more sensitive to heat.
Changes in eating habits
One of the main reasons glycemic imbalance in people with diabetes in summer This is a change in eating habits. In this regard, the SEEN specialist notes that:
- “Increased consumption Alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic means more calories and carbohydrates, which will immediately lead to a lack of glycemic control. and, in the medium term, an increase in body fat and excess weight.”
To avoid this, Dr. Gargallo warns that people with diabetes They should be careful about what drinks they consume.ensuring that they are low in calories and also that they no alcohol or “00”. In addition, these drinks, so common at dinners, lunches or summer snacks, are usually accompanied by appetizers that are also not recommended for diabetics.
Therefore, a doctor specializing in Endocrinology and nutrition emphasizes that to compensate for these “excesses” people with diabetes must control their consumption and thus maintain some control over their diabetes. Thus, “They can have snacks or appetizers with dietary cuts for lunch or dinner,” – the expert notes.
Risk of dehydration in diabetics
One of the problems directly related to high temperatures is dehydration. Anyone can suffer from it, but:
- Patients with diabetes are particularly vulnerable to fluid loss.
As Dr. Gargallo explains, if glucose levels are not properly controlled during the summer months, “They may urinate a lot and, if the heat makes them sweat a lot, if they do not compensate for these losses by drinking significant amounts of fluid, the risk of dehydration is very high“.
“This The risk is higher in older people with diabetes or those who have “some type of kidney disease”adds the expert.
“Therefore, this group of the population should drink at least two liters of liquid daily and do not expose yourself to high temperatures for too long.”
To this we must add the effect of some drugs (glucosurics) is to increase the production urinewhich increases the risk of dehydration in those patients who take them.
Sedentary lifestyle, uncontrolled glucose levels
Another problem for diabetics in the summer months is lack of exercise which in many cases high temperatures limit and lead to a sedentary lifestyle, which means controlling blood glucose levels.
In this sense, the endocrinologist emphasizes that Physical activity provides many benefits for people with diabetes, including:
- Reducing cardiovascular risk, since it is the leading cause of mortality in these patients.
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Besides, it helps weight control and prevent obesity
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Promotes glycemic control
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Prevents and combats development sarcopeniamore common in people with diabetes
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This has a positive impact in terms of psychological and in the quality of life.
So even if it’s hot Patients with diabetes should try to stay active, walking or swimming are good options, taking advantage of the hours when the sun is less intense.
Last but not least, it should not be forgotten that the main drug for the treatment of diabetes is Insulin is a drug that is very sensitive to heat, to the point that it can lose its effectiveness if the temperature it is exposed to is very high. “You shouldn’t leave it in the car for hours in the sun or in a window,” he says.