For the estimated 38 million Americans who live with diabetes, rising temperatures in the summer can be a dangerous time, and health experts say people with diabetes actually feel the effects more than those without.
“People with diabetes need to be extra vigilant in hot weather and pay more attention to their blood sugar levels,” says Dr. Vitika Thompson, an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic.
Doctors say that even sweating can cause dehydration, which affects the body’s ability to normalize blood sugar levels.
“So, it’s kind of a dangerous road and you end up getting pretty sick,” Thompson said.
Thompson said people with diabetes can protect themselves from extreme heat by checking their blood sugar levels frequently, staying well hydrated and staying indoors during the hottest parts of the day.
But Thompson says it’s also important to get some physical activity.
“You don’t want to sit around doing nothing over the summer and put your overall health at risk from diabetes, so you need to have a plan for staying active,” Thompson says.
High temperatures can also affect diabetic supplies, equipment and medications, so Thompson urges people to avoid storing these items in a hot car and to follow their doctor’s or label instructions for how to store these items.
