Hot weather and diabetes warning

The summer holidays are upon us and enjoying the sun is one of the things many of us look forward to at this time of year. But for people living with diabetes, the hot weather can make it harder to manage blood sugar levels so it’s important to take extra care.

If you have diabetes, or know someone with the condition, it’s good to be aware of these tips for staying sun-safe this summer.

• Check your blood sugar levels more often. If you take insulin to treat your diabetes it will be absorbed more quickly from the injection site in warm weather, and this increases the risk of hypos. Also, hot weather can make us less active, meaning blood sugars are higher than normal. Be ready to adjust your diet or insulin dose if you take insulin. If you plan on being active in the sun, like going for a swim, eat some extra carbohydrate at your meal before or as an extra snack. Check your levels beforehand, and make sure to carry hypo treatments with you.
• Keep meters and test strips away from the sun, as they can be affected by the heat. If you use these, keep them as close to normal room temperature as possible and out of direct sunlight.
• If you take insulin, keep a close eye on how you store it. If your blood sugar levels are consistently higher than expected, it’s worth considering whether your insulin could have been damaged in the sun. Insulin, in the hot weather especially, is best kept in the fridge or a cool bag. But be careful it doesn’t freeze.
• If you have neuropathy, you may not be aware of your feet burning, so wear sun cream and shoes on hot ground.

The important thing to remember is that, if you are careful about managing your diabetes, there’s no reason you can’t have fun in the sun like anybody else. You’ll find further information about managing diabetes in the hot weather on the Diabetes UK website – diabetes.org.uk.