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I agree that many people needreminding for what to do during the heat of summer and then againwhen winter comes around. I had intended to do one blog for summer andwinter, but why not for the entire year. The suggestions and tips dovary somewhat by the season, but need to become second nature toprevent loss of diabetes supplies to nature's whims and brutalelements. Each season also has its own unique problems for yourhealth.
In thinking this over, I am surprisedat how many are applicable every day. Those with type 1 diabetes candetermine when they wish to take a pump vacation. Let's not mistakethat I live in the northern part of the USA and I am writing for thisarea. The southern part of the USA will require some modificationsfor hotter summers and milder winters. Others will have to adaptthis for where they live.
Staying hydrated is importantfor all seasons. Too many people are lured into a false sense ofwell-being except in summer when we know we must stay hydrated. Itis this false security that gets people into trouble in spring andfall when they have been working outdoors. They think that theydon't need water as they have not been doing strenuous activity andhave been sweating very little. Little do they realize they havebeen losing moisture to evaporation and because it is cooler or thereis a breeze that their system hasn't needed to create sweat.
Don't think you need to worry aboutdrinking water in the winter? That false sense of security willcause you damage and dehydration problems. Most people do notrealize how hard it is to walk in snow, shovel snow, or just how muchthey sweat just moving around outside. With today's clothing,moisture may be wicked away from the skin and you will not feel wetuntil you are back inside and removing layers. When you come to thewet clothing, just realize that you may be more dehydrated than yourealize.
You may not need to drink as much waterin the fall, winter, and spring as you do in the summer, butdehydration is just as possible and in some ways more dangerousbecause you think you are not dehydrated. This article aboutelectric fan use in the summer heat is very interesting about thedangers involved for the very young and elderly.
Analyze the feelings or symptomsis especially important in the summer when you may think you areexperiencing hypoglycemia, but the symptoms might just as easily beheat exhaustion or on the verge of sunstroke. First get to an airconditioned area if one is available and have a good drink of water. If an air-conditioned building is not available, get to a shaded areaand make sure that you are not constricted by heavy clothing orunable to pull the blouse or shirt out of jeans, skirt, or pants toallow for easier evaporation. Test your blood glucose to help youdetermine if you are low. If this is correct, definitely chew on aglucose tablet and retest in 15 minutes. Otherwise make plans to getto an air conditioned facility or hospital as soon as reasonablypossible. Heat or sunstroke is a medical emergency and should bedealt with immediately.
Yes, you probably may not experienceheat exhaustion during the winter, but during the spring and fall,hot days do happen. Always be prepared.
Wear appropriate footwear isvery important. This means probably different footwear for thedifferent seasons and where you will be. Because of blood glucoselevels, many people must wear proper footwear to prevent injury andhaving the injury become infected. This is important for healingwhen injury could have been prevented. Too many people like to wearnothing on their feet during the summer months whether inside oroutside. All it takes a shard of glass, a nail, or other sharpobject to do the damage, and if you have neuropathy or numbness inyour feet, you may not to notice that you have injured yourself. Then if this area becomes infected, you may not catch it in time toprevent proper healing and this can be when the fear of amputationsets in.
Keep diabetes supplies inappropriate containers is sound advice. The container that holdsyour test strips keeps them fresh and ready to use. Avoid exposingthe container and the test strips to direct sunlight and preventmoisture from getting into the container. Depending on where youare, consider keeping the container of test strips in a zip lock bagand the bag in a cooler with ice packs or a Frio container. Alsokeep you meter out of direct sunlight and in the same manner as thetest strips. Always store the test strips between 36° Fahrenheitand 90° F (2° Celsius to 32° C). Do not expose the test strips toheat, moisture, or humidity. Temperatures outside the requiredranges, as well as moisture and humidity, can damage the test stripsand lead to inaccurate results.
Insulin that is unopened should bestored in the refrigerator between 36–46°F (2–8°C). If theinsulin becomes frozen, it must be destroyed. Once the vial has beenopened, it may be stored at room temperature below 86°F (30°C). Keep the vial in a place away from direct sunlight and heat. Do notuse after 28 days once the vile is opened. For carrying insulinvials or insulin pens outside, use a cooler with ice packs or a Friocontainer. In the winter, use insulated packs for carrying insulinas insulin cannot be frozen, and if frozen it must be destroyed.
Oral medications should also beprotected from direct sunlight and moisture. Some oral medicationshave specific storage instruction. Therefore carefully read theinstructions that come with your oral medications, or have a longtalk with your pharmacist for specifics. Read this for safety tips oninsulin and syringes.
Wear appropriate clothing forthe season. Protect yourself from sunburn during the entireyear. We are all aware of the late spring through early fall, butsunburn also happens in the winter when the sun reflects off thesnow. If you are outside for an extended period of time, beware ofsunburn. Protect yourself from frostbite during the coldest part ofwinter.
Rules for driving are importantto know as each state is different and the doctors in each state mayhave different reporting requirements for people with diabetes. Solearn as much as you can about the rules in your state. Many statesrequire doctors to report hypoglycemic tendencies and evaluate yourrisk for doing the testing and maintaining of safe blood glucoselevels while driving. Some states maintain records of accidentscaused by hypoglycemia and do suspend driving privileges for theseaccidents. If you are a person that has hypoglycemia frequently,always be sure to test before you start driving. It is always goodto test before driving if you have type 1 diabetes or are a type 2 oninsulin or sulfonylureas or the other oral medications that causehypoglycemia.
For the applicable laws of your state,please read this.
Suggestions for exercising arenot something to be taken lightly. Too many people do not discussexercising regimens with their doctor and get themselves in dangerfor not having routines that are safe for their health condition. Most doctors will encourage exercise and offer suggestions for safeexercise. They will also do tests to assist in determining thelimits, if any, that need to be in place for the season or thelocation for the exercise. It is important to know your bloodglucose before you exercise and I have written about this here. Moresafety tips for exercising may be read here.
Tips for skin care are importantin any season. People with diabetes are very susceptible to manyskin problems. Thirty three percent of people with diabetes canexpect the have a skin disorder caused by or affected by diabetessome time in their lives. If a skin condition is caught early it canbe easily treated and many skin conditions can be prevented. Read this for more information.
Some skin conditions anyone can have,but people with diabetes get more easily. These include bacterialinfections, fungal infections, and itching. Other skin problemshappen mostly or only to people with diabetes. These include diabeticdermopathy, necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum, diabetic blisters,and eruptive xanthomatosis.
Tips for foot care can beimportant all the time. Everyone should have good foot care, but forpeople with diabetes, a daily self-care routine is a must habit. Ifyou have feet or leg nerve damage (neuropathy), you may have aninjury and not realize it. This is why a daily check is so importantto discover small cuts or wounds before they become infected.
Too many people ignore this advice andwonder why they develop serious problems or complications – leadingto amputations. About 85% of amputations could be prevented if thepatient has it treated early. For more information please read this.
Safety tips for summer – read this.
Safety tips for winter – read this.
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