Extreme heat (in baths, hot tubs, or sunburns) can cause blood vessels to dilate, which makes insulin absorb more quickly and could lead to low blood sugar.
High temperatures and heat can change how your body uses insulin. You may need to test your blood glucose more often and adjust your insulin dose and what you eat and drink.
Certain diabetes complications, such as damage to blood vessels and nerves, can affect your sweat glands so your body can't cool as effectively. That can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which is a medical emergency. People with diabetes get dehydrated (lose too much water from their bodies) more quickly.
Most types of insulin can tolerate temperatures up to 93-95 degrees Fahrenheit. Exposing your supply to anything higher than this will make the medication quickly break down. Be careful and pay attention to any insulin you're carrying with you in the heat.
A hot shower works too! One way this works is that hot water encourages our blood vessels to relax and widen, so more blood can flow to our muscles and tissues (similar to exercise). More blood to the tissues means more glucose can enter into our cells and lower our blood sugar.
Neuropathies and sweating
Sudomotor function describes the part of the nervous system that controls sweating. Diabetes can result in nerve damage so that for some people, the nerves that control sweat glands are always “switched on.” This can result in excessive sweating, known as hyperhidrosis.
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.
Insulin freezes at around 32°F (0°C), and frozen insulin doesn't work anymore, even when thawed. The cold can also damage insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors. Prepare a backup kit. Having a diabetes care kit can help you manage diabetes during times of emergency like a snowstorm.
Ice baths control blood sugars. Several scientific studies have demonstrated that deliberate cold exposure will clear glucose from the bloodstream and improve insulin sensitivity.
Passive heating such as hot water bathing may benefit people with DM and those with poor glycemic control.
Along with flushing out the toxins from your body, it also helps to maintain your body temperature. Thus, drinking water lowers your blood pressure levels and eases the blood sugar levels immediately. A glass of lukewarm water, first thing in the morning, helps improve metabolism.
Experts advise drinking 6-8 glasses of water every day for oxygen to flow freely in your body and help the kidneys and colon eliminate waste. What's best, it helps in flushing out excess sugar from your body.
When your blood sugar levels are running high, your body will try to flush excess sugar out of your blood through the urine. As a result, your body will need more fluids to rehydrate itself. Drinking water can help the body with flushing out some of the glucose in the blood.
A person with diabetes should include a variety of fresh, whole foods in their diet, such as nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables. Bananas are a safe and nutritious fruit for people with diabetes to eat in moderation as part of a balanced, individualized eating plan.
For many people with diabetes, as the temperature drops, blood sugars rise. That's because when snow, ice and cold weather keep you inside, you may exercise less and eat more. Here are a few tips to better control your blood sugars during the winter months — and keep those winter blues away!
Why are people with diabetes more prone to infections? High blood sugar levels can weaken a person's immune system defenses. People who have had diabetes for a long time may have peripheral nerve damage and reduced blood flow to their extremities, which increases the chance for infection.
Diabetes can cause anemia, kidney and circulation problems, which can lead people to feel cold.
Do not eat white bread, chips, and pastries, which quickly increase blood sugar. Avoid processed foods and meats as they will be rich in salt and oil. Restrict fried and fatty foods. Do not take full fat dairy products.
For people with diabetes, blood sugar can spike. Dehydration—less water in your body means your blood sugar is more concentrated. Nose spray—some have chemicals that trigger your liver to make more blood sugar. Gum disease—it's both a complication of diabetes and a blood sugar spiker.
Apart from these, foods that are dangerous for diabetics are: fried foods, potato chips, sugar and sugar containing foods, ice cream, energy drinks, alcohol and sugary drinks. The consumption of these foods is extremely harmful to diabetic patients.
People who have diabetes often have poor sleep habits, including difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Some people with diabetes get too much sleep, while others have problems getting enough sleep.
When blood sugar levels are high, the kidneys overcompensate by causing you to urinate more often. During the night, these frequent trips to the bathroom lead to disrupted sleep. High blood sugar may also cause headaches, increased thirst, and tiredness that can interfere with falling asleep.
Make sure that you drink plenty of water and fluids so that you are not dehydrated. Always make it a point to move slowly and carefully. If you have felt dizzy before due to low blood sugar levels, carry something sweet with you that is also safe for your diabetes health, such as a fruit or some glucose powder.
A. No, zero sugar soda uses artificial sweeteners, which increases people's weight. Increased weight, in turn, is linked to the worsening of diabetes. Hence, zero soda is not suitable for diabetes.