18
NEWS
Hot stuff!
Diabetes UK's hot weather warning to people living
with diabetes in mid-July's heatwave.
With the Met Office issuing weather
warnings for extreme heat in areas of the
country for 17th July, Diabetes UK Cymru
put out advice for how people living with
diabetes can cope in the hot weather. If you have any
type of diabetes, or know someone with the condition, it's
good to be aware of these tips for staying sun-safe, in the
UK or anywhere else.
Check blood sugar levels
If you usually check your own blood sugar levels, do this
more often and 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 have a sugary snack if your levels are low.
Keep something sugary to hand too, such as your usual
hypo treatment, just in case.
Keep meters and test strips out of
the sun
Extremes of temperature can also affect blood glucose
meter and test strips. If you use these, keep your meter
and test strips as close to normal room temperature
as possible and out of direct sunlight, but don't
refrigerate them as cold temperatures can also lead to
misleading results.
Store insulin properly
If you take insulin to treat your diabetes, keep a close
eye on how you store it as it should never get too hot
or it could be deactivated. If your blood sugar levels are
consistently higher than expected, it could be that your
insulin has been damaged if it's been left anywhere too
hot. Insulin, in the hot weather especially, is best kept in
the fridge or a cool bag (however, it must not freeze, as
that will deactivate it too).
When damaged by heat, clear insulin generally
becomes cloudy, and cloudy insulin becomes grainy
and sticks in the side of the glass. Insulin that has been
exposed to bright sunlight sometimes has a brownish
colour. Do not use insulin that looks like this. Speak to
your GP or a healthcare professional if you're unsure.
Other medications, such as tablets, should usually
be kept as close to normal room as possible. Check
the patient information leaflet that comes with your
medication for information on how to store.
Stay hydrated
If you're being active or just relaxing, everyone knows
that hot weather will make you sweat. This is your body's
natural way of cooling down, but you'll need to replace
the fluids. Drinking water or sugar free soft drinks will
help you to stay hydrated. Carry drinks with you and
make sure you have regular sips. Becoming dehydrated
increases the risk of hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic
syndrome (HHS) or Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Other 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 sun cream to exposed areas of your body 15 to 30
minutes before going out in the sun.
• Always wear something on your feet. If you have
neuropathy, you may not be aware of your feet burning,
so wear sun cream and some sort of sandals or shoes
on hot ground.
Dan Howarth, Head of Care at Diabetes UK, says,
"Sitting in the sun for long periods can affect your
diabetes because you're not being very active, making
blood sugar levels higher than usual. On the flipside, 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. However, 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."
www.diabetes.org.uk