How Hot Weather Affects People With Diabetes

Heat and humidity can be challenging for people with diabetes, especially if there are when combined with underlying complications. Diabetes can interfere with your body’s ability to keep cool and this can make it harder to regulate temperature and hydration in hot weather. In turn this has direct effects on blood glucose levels. Here are several ways hot weather affects diabetes.

• Reduced ability to sweat: Nerve damage (neuropathy) can impair sweat glands, making it harder for your body to cool down naturally.
• Sunburn and stress: Painful sunburn can cause your body to release stress hormones, which may raise blood sugar levels.
• Dehydration: People with diabetes may become dehydrated faster so as fluid levels drop, blood glucose becomes more concentrated and can rise.
• Confusing symptoms: Fatigue, dizziness and nausea can be symptoms of dehydration, hypoglycaemia, hyperglycaemia or heat exhaustion and this makes it difficult to pinpoint the cause. It’s not always easy to tell if you’re dizzy because you’re dehydrated or because your blood sugar is dropping, so checking your blood sugar frequently in the heat is important and removes the guesswork.

Tips for Managing Diabetes in Hot Weather
Planning ahead is key when managing diabetes in the summer, starting with hydration, sun safety and making sure your devices are protected from the heat.

• Avoid peak sun hours: Opt for early morning or evening activities to avoid the worst of the heat.
• Stay hydrated: Carry a water bottle with you at all times and sip consistently throughout the day. Aim for water or electrolyte drinks and avoid alcohol or sugary beverages.
• Dress for the weather: Wear loose-fitting clothing and light colours to reflect sunlight. A wide-brimmed hat can provide extra protection.
• Use sunscreen: A broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher can help prevent burns that could trigger stress-related blood sugar spikes.
• Monitor blood sugar frequently: Check levels more often than usual, especially before and after outdoor activities.
• Have snacks on hand: In the case of low blood sugar, always carry fast-acting carbs like glucose tablets or juice.
• Don’t exercise in extreme heat: Opt for indoor workouts or water-based activities when temperatures are high.

How to Store Diabetes Supplies and Medication
High temperatures can also degrade or interfere with insulin, test strips, continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and insulin pumps leading to inaccurate readings and less effective treatment.

Insulin is highly sensitive to heat and even just one hour in a very hot car or on a hot beach can destroy the quality of insulin. Unopened insulin should be stored in the fridge but in-use insulin can be stored at room temperature. Other supplies, including CGMs and test strips, should also be stored at room temperature.
Here are some tips to protect your supplies:

• Keep insulin cool but not frozen.
• Don’t leave supplies in a hot car.
• Check expiration dates – heat exposure can reduce the lifespan of insulin and test strips, so inspect regularly.
• Monitor device performance – if your CGM or pump starts acting up, heat exposure may be the cause.