When it’s cold, there may be more to managing diabetes than you expect.
On this page:
- How cold weather can affect diabetes
- Checking your sugar levels
- Looking after your feet
- Take care of your medication and diabetes kit
- Getting your flu and Covid jabs
- Cold weather and your mental health
- Financial side of cold weather
- Eating well and planning meals
- Staying active in the colder months
How cold weather can affect diabetes
Cold weather can slow blood flow around the body, which can increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke. Living with diabetes increases your risk of these complications; therefore, it is important to stay warm and know how to manage your blood sugar levels during cold weather.
If you are living with diabetes complications, for example heart disease or nerve pain (neuropathy), cold weather can make this worse for some people.
Cold weather can also raise blood pressure, and if it’s too high, it puts extra strain on the body. It affects how the blood flows around the body, and circulation to your hands and feet can slow down, which could make neuropathy more painful in these areas.
NHS advice is to heat your home to at least 18°C in the rooms that you regularly use and to keep bedroom windows closed at night. This is particularly important if you have a health condition like diabetes. Here's the NHS guide to staying well this winter.
Keeping warm by heating your home will help, but we know it’s not as simple as that with the cost of living. You might be entitled to grants or benefits to help make your home more energy efficient – the Citizen's Advice website is a good place to start, or you can read our page on diabetes and benefits.
There is a free support service called the Priority Services Register that provides extra help for people with diabetes and others in vulnerable situations.
So ask your energy supplier to add you to the Priority Services Register, which can offer a range of additional support.
If you’re worried about any of this advice or have specific questions – give our free helpline a call or get in touch with your healthcare team.
“My tip would be to wear warm clothing before you felt cold. Not waiting until you were already feeling chilly. And try thermal vests and leggings.”
- Get more from our online forum members.
Check sugar levels
If you usually check your own sugar levels, keep a closer eye on them during the winter months. Monitoring them more regularly can help with managing your diabetes. Keep a closer eye on them during the winter months. Monitoring them more regularly can help with managing your diabetes.
If you use a blood glucose monitor, you might find the cold makes it more difficult to draw a drop of blood for finger-prick testing, so try warming up your fingers using hand warmers, holding a warm cup of tea or wearing gloves just before you check.
However, if you have peripheral neuropathy in your hands or fingers with any changes in sensation, it can be difficult to feel how hot things are. So don't hold a hot cup to warm your hands, and if you use handwarmers, check that they are suitable for you to use.
Check your feet
Living with diabetes means you are at greater risk of developing serious foot problems.
Although you may need to layer up during cold weather, remember to still take your shoes and socks off each day to check your feet thoroughly for any sign of a foot problem.
If you have neuropathy in your feet, be extra careful if you use a hot water bottle, electric blanket or heater to keep warm.
If you're using a hot water bottle, fill it with hot water, not boiling water and ensure it has a cover. Always remove the hot water bottle from your bed before getting in.
Never use a hot water bottle at the same time as an electric blanket.
If you're using an electric blanket, always turn it off before getting into bed and make sure you have checked the manufacturer’s recommendations before use. This is because if you’ve lost sensation in your feet, you may not notice when they are getting too hot and starting to burn.
Never use an electric blanket if you use emollient creams or have an air flow pressure relief mattress.
Take a look at our guide on how to look after your feet.
Take care of your meds and kit
If you take insulin to treat your diabetes, keep a close eye on how you store it.
Insulin can freeze if it is left out in extreme cold, so keep your insulin that is in use at room temperature. For more information on how to store insulin, visit our page what is insulin?.
Blood sugar testing equipment and insulin pump handsets can also be affected by the cold. Keep them at room temperature or, if you’re outside, keep them close to your body. You can also use an insulated case or pouch. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for specific advice.
Get your flu jab
It’s really important if you live with diabetes that you get your free NHS flu jab to protect yourself from getting ill. This is because winter is when viruses circulate most, and people living with diabetes are at a higher risk of complications associated with flu.
COVID-19 vaccinations
Since Autumn 2025, the eligibility for a COVID-19 vaccination in the UK has changed.
Only the following groups of people will be offered a COVID-19 vaccination in the UK:
- people aged 75 and over
- people aged 6 months to 74 years who have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment
- people who live in a care home for older adults.
Children and adults in the UK living with long-term health conditions, including diabetes, who do not fall into an eligible group will no longer be offered a COVID-19 vaccination. Read more on our COVID-19 vaccination page.
The NHS has more information on vaccinations and staying well this winter on their website.
If you do get unwell, you may find it more difficult to manage your blood sugars and keep them within range. Make sure you contact your healthcare team for advice and follow your sick day rules.
Get more information and support on managing diabetes when you're unwell.
Look after your mental health
The cold winter months and shorter daylight hours can affect us mentally, as well as physically. It can make us feel low, lethargic and even depressed.
When you live with diabetes, these emotions can impact your blood sugar levels too.
Whatever you’re feeling, you’re not alone. Talking to other people about how you’re feeling isn’t always easy, but it can help. This could be your healthcare team, a family member, or even a stranger on our online support forum.
Find advice and support on coping with different emotions, including videos from people living with diabetes.
If you need someone to talk to, our helpline is also available for support and information about living with diabetes.
The financial side
We know that many people living with diabetes or caring for a loved one with diabetes have been struggling with the cost of living, including energy bills. In May 2023, we published research in our report The Hidden Cost showing the impact that this can have on managing diabetes.
That’s why we want Ofgem to make sure that people with diabetes have guaranteed protection against energy disconnection and to permanently stop forced pre-payment meter installation.
We support the Guarantee Our Essentials campaign calling for Universal Credit to be enough to cover the cost of essentials like energy bills, so that more people can have the warm home that they need to stay well.
If you were born on or before 27 June 1960 and usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland check if you're eligible to apply for a Winter Fuel Payment and information about claiming on the GOV.UK website.
In Scotland, eligible people can get a payment to help with heating costs called the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP). Most eligible people will get the payment automatically and do not need to apply. You’ll receive a letter to confirm your payment. Letters are being sent from November 2026.
If you need further support with the cost of living, you can visit our cost of living support page for advice and resources.
Our helpline is always here to chat - you can call them on 0345 123 2399 or email helpline@diabetes.org.uk.
Eat well
We’ve got a whole host of recipes to keep you toasty and healthy through the colder months. Check out our budget-friendly meal plan for the week, filled with warming stews and soups.
You might be surprised to hear that alcohol can make your blood vessels dilate and cause you to lose more heat from your body. It is a myth that drinking alcohol will warm you up - it will have the opposite effect, making you colder, and in cold weather it can increase your risk of hypothermia.
Vitamin D supplementation
From October to March, the sun is not strong enough for the body to produce vitamin D naturally. Current government advice for the UK is that everyone over the age of four should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms (10 μg) of vitamin D during autumn and winter.
This dose is also frequently labelled as 400 International Units (400 IU). Babies and young children under 4 are recommended to take a supplement too. The NHS has more information about vitamin D, including the recommended dosage.
Stay active
Winter can mean you’re not as active if you’re inside a bit more, which can affect your blood sugars, and you may find they are above your target range.
Government advice is to try not to sit still for more than an hour or so. Little bits of movement throughout the day can help you stay active, even when you’re spending more time indoors.
Being active has many benefits, but it can be particularly helpful in the winter months. Exercise can keep you warm, boost your mood, and help with blood flow around the body – not to mention help you manage your blood sugars.
You can also have the benefits of being active without having to brave the cold. “We know that home can be a great place for people to start moving more, without the need for expensive gym memberships or sports equipment,” says Diabetes UK’s Senior Physical Activity Advisor Neil Gibson.
Try to get out in the natural sunlight – a lunchtime walk can help, or if you're spending more time inside there are lots of ways to keep moving. Try climbing the stairs a few times, dancing in the ad breaks while you’re watching TV, or vacuuming the house.
If you have limited mobility, armchair exercises are a useful option.
Little and often really does add up, and by committing to moving more often at home, those minutes can soon rack up, helping you feel fitter, healthier and happier in no time.
“The beauty of this is that it’s so much easier to build moving more into your daily routine when you’re doing it in the comfort of your own home,” explains Neil.
“If you work from home, you could set yourself a target of jogging on the spot for a few minutes after each online meeting, for example. Or try to get moving every time you’re waiting for the kettle to boil.”
A key thing to remember is to prepare properly: ensure you have everything you need, such as, a blood glucose monitor, hypo treatment, and suitable clothing, when it’s time to move.
Make sure that there’s nothing in your way before you start your activity – and that there are no trip hazards to prevent you doing it safely.
Get moving today with our simple exercise videos.
“Movement is just as important as wrapping up! Going out for a brisk walk is good, but it's just as good to do some sort of exercise in your home. Even just getting up and walking around even a little bit every hour will make you feel warmer than sitting still for hours on end, as well as being better for your health in general.”
- A tip from one of our online forum members.
