Heatwave advice
30 June 2009
Experts are predicting record-breaking temperatures this week, so it’s important to take precautions to ensure that your diabetes remains well-controlled in this extreme weather.
Long periods of inactivity in the sun can affect diabetes control, making blood glucose levels higher than usual. On the flipside, insulin will be absorbed more quickly from the injection site in hot weather and this increases the risk of hypos.
Monitor your levels
Cathy Moulton, Care Advisor at Diabetes UK, said: “People with diabetes will need to monitor their blood glucose levels more often and be ready to adjust their diet or insulin dose accordingly.
“If your levels are higher than expected, it is worth considering whether your insulin could have been damaged in the sun.”
Top tips
When you’re out and about in the sun, remember to:
- wear long sleeves, loose trousers, a hat and sunglasses with a UV 400 label
- apply sunscreen to exposed areas of your body 15-30 minutes before going out in the sun
- If you have neuropathy you may not be aware when your feet are burning, so apply sunscreen and wear flip flops on hot ground.
Heat exhaustion
Heat exhaustion can develop when the body finds it difficult to keep cool. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, tiredness, muscle cramps, stomach cramps and pale skin. As some of these could also be due to unstable blood glucose levels, it’s important to test regularly.
Cathy Moulton advised: “Heat exhaustion needs immediate treatment. Move to a cool place to rest and sip a cold drink. If left untreated heat exhaustion can lead to the more severe and potentially life-threatening condition heat stroke, so take action straight away.”
Symptoms of heat stroke include confusion, hallucinations, rapid breathing and convulsions, all of which require immediate medical attention.
Be vigilant - “If people are vigilant about their diabetes control then there is no reason they can’t have fun in the sun like anybody else.”
