Published: Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Summer can be sweet for diabetics
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Weekly Herald photo illustration/CHRIS GOODENOW
If you have diabetes, the heat of summer, vacation plans and picnic foods can all make controlling your blood sugar more challenging.
For people with diabetes, keeping blood sugars under control is key to avoiding complications.
The heat of summer, vacation plans and picnic foods can make those efforts more challenging. For some, the symptoms of dehydration, sweating and shortness of breath masquerade as hypoglycemia, or a low blood sugar. Sunbathing and sitting in hot tubs causes insulin to absorb faster putting people at a higher risk of hypoglycemia. Tossing back a few beers at a baseball game or picnic can shoot blood sugars out of range before free-falling.
Fortunately, there are ways for people with diabetes to stay on top of their blood sugar control.
“Prevention is the best step,” said Dr. Elena Geamanu, an endocrinologist at Swedish/Edmonds.
Geamanu offers her patients tips to avoid dicey situations, particularly while traveling.
She recommends patients see her six weeks before a vacation to check their ABC’s; A1C, blood pressure and cholesterol. An A1C is a blood test that measures a person’s average blood sugar during the last three months.
She also reminds patients that summertime means testing blood sugars more frequently, up to eight times per day, to keep tabs on where her patients’ numbers are.
While packing for a trip, Geamanu tells patients to take a list of their prescriptions and wear medical ID jewelry in case of an emergency. Additionally, they should take more supplies than expected and keep glucose tabs handy in case they eat later than planned. She tells patients to avoid walking barefoot to avoid injuries which take longer to heal for those with diabetes. Patients should carry their diabetes supplies in their purse or carry on and keep insulin, pumps and glucose meters out of direct sunlight. Insulin must be kept cool but doesn’t have to sit on ice, she said. Also keep in mind restaurant meals will carry more carbohydrates and calories than a home-cooked meal.
Despite her advice, Geamanu says there isn’t a “one size fits all” regimen for her patients. Rather she works with patients individually to assess needs.
“It’s not clear cut for every patient,” she said.
The Swedish/Edmonds website offers resources and tips for people to learn more about diseases including diabetes. People can access the Krames and Ebsco online health libraries through the hospital website (see “Learn more,” above).
This site offers information that has been reviewed by physicians compared to sites where the creators are pushing to sell a product, said Cory Houghton, clinic administrator at the Swedish/Edmonds specialty clinic.
“It’s extensive, there are thousands of pages of healthcare information for free,” Houghton said.
But not all physicians see such dramatic changes in their patients.
Edmonds-based endocrinologist Dr. Mark Silver said he doesn’t see a striking amount of diabetes-related issues in his patients during the summer compared to other seasons.
“It’s not typical to see someone have control during the year and see it go south during the summer,” Silver said.
This could be because the weather is milder compared to summer along the East Coast which is marked by humid summers, Silver said.
As for his patients, the top issues he sees are more people are outside exercising, which is the single biggest change to affect patient’s diabetes management. Exercise is beneficial in lowering blood sugars but also poses the risk of hypoglycemia.
To control their blood sugars, Silver advises patients to drink more water, keep extra supplies available and eat carbohydrates in moderation.
“People who have had a difficult time achieving success, for some, they take it to heart,” he said.
More info
Swedish/Edmonds offers resources about diseases through the Ebsco and Krames online health libraries at http://swedish.kramesonline.com.
Tips for diabetes management
• Keep hydrated. To prevent dehydration drink plenty of caffeine-free fluids such as water, seltzer or sugar-free iced tea and lemonade. Limit your intake of alcohol.
• Watch for signs of heat exhaustion, especially if you are working or exercising outdoors. People with diabetes and other chronic diseases like heart disease are more susceptible to overheating. Symptoms include: feeling dizzy or fainting; sweating excessively; muscle cramps; skin that is cold or clammy; headaches; rapid heartbeat and/or nausea.
• Exercise in a cool place such as an air-conditioned gym, or early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures may be more moderate.
• Check blood glucose levels at least four times per day, and more often if you are not feeling well. Heat can cause blood glucose levels to fluctuate. Carry plenty of water and snacks.
• Store your blood glucose meter, strips and insulin in a cool, dry place. Do not store insulin in extreme temperatures. Never store insulin in the freezer, in direct sunlight, in the car or the car’s glove compartment. Examine your vials of insulin. Clear insulin (Regular, Humalog, Novolog, Apidra, Lantus, Levemir) should remain clear. NPH insulin should not have any clumping or “frosting” on the vials.
Source: Joslin Diabetes Center, www.joslin.org
The heat of summer, vacation plans and picnic foods can make those efforts more challenging. For some, the symptoms of dehydration, sweating and shortness of breath masquerade as hypoglycemia, or a low blood sugar. Sunbathing and sitting in hot tubs causes insulin to absorb faster putting people at a higher risk of hypoglycemia. Tossing back a few beers at a baseball game or picnic can shoot blood sugars out of range before free-falling.
Fortunately, there are ways for people with diabetes to stay on top of their blood sugar control.
“Prevention is the best step,” said Dr. Elena Geamanu, an endocrinologist at Swedish/Edmonds.
Geamanu offers her patients tips to avoid dicey situations, particularly while traveling.
She recommends patients see her six weeks before a vacation to check their ABC’s; A1C, blood pressure and cholesterol. An A1C is a blood test that measures a person’s average blood sugar during the last three months.
She also reminds patients that summertime means testing blood sugars more frequently, up to eight times per day, to keep tabs on where her patients’ numbers are.
While packing for a trip, Geamanu tells patients to take a list of their prescriptions and wear medical ID jewelry in case of an emergency. Additionally, they should take more supplies than expected and keep glucose tabs handy in case they eat later than planned. She tells patients to avoid walking barefoot to avoid injuries which take longer to heal for those with diabetes. Patients should carry their diabetes supplies in their purse or carry on and keep insulin, pumps and glucose meters out of direct sunlight. Insulin must be kept cool but doesn’t have to sit on ice, she said. Also keep in mind restaurant meals will carry more carbohydrates and calories than a home-cooked meal.
Despite her advice, Geamanu says there isn’t a “one size fits all” regimen for her patients. Rather she works with patients individually to assess needs.
“It’s not clear cut for every patient,” she said.
The Swedish/Edmonds website offers resources and tips for people to learn more about diseases including diabetes. People can access the Krames and Ebsco online health libraries through the hospital website (see “Learn more,” above).
This site offers information that has been reviewed by physicians compared to sites where the creators are pushing to sell a product, said Cory Houghton, clinic administrator at the Swedish/Edmonds specialty clinic.
“It’s extensive, there are thousands of pages of healthcare information for free,” Houghton said.
But not all physicians see such dramatic changes in their patients.
Edmonds-based endocrinologist Dr. Mark Silver said he doesn’t see a striking amount of diabetes-related issues in his patients during the summer compared to other seasons.
“It’s not typical to see someone have control during the year and see it go south during the summer,” Silver said.
This could be because the weather is milder compared to summer along the East Coast which is marked by humid summers, Silver said.
As for his patients, the top issues he sees are more people are outside exercising, which is the single biggest change to affect patient’s diabetes management. Exercise is beneficial in lowering blood sugars but also poses the risk of hypoglycemia.
To control their blood sugars, Silver advises patients to drink more water, keep extra supplies available and eat carbohydrates in moderation.
“People who have had a difficult time achieving success, for some, they take it to heart,” he said.
More info
Swedish/Edmonds offers resources about diseases through the Ebsco and Krames online health libraries at http://swedish.kramesonline.com.
Tips for diabetes management
• Keep hydrated. To prevent dehydration drink plenty of caffeine-free fluids such as water, seltzer or sugar-free iced tea and lemonade. Limit your intake of alcohol.
• Watch for signs of heat exhaustion, especially if you are working or exercising outdoors. People with diabetes and other chronic diseases like heart disease are more susceptible to overheating. Symptoms include: feeling dizzy or fainting; sweating excessively; muscle cramps; skin that is cold or clammy; headaches; rapid heartbeat and/or nausea.
• Exercise in a cool place such as an air-conditioned gym, or early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures may be more moderate.
• Check blood glucose levels at least four times per day, and more often if you are not feeling well. Heat can cause blood glucose levels to fluctuate. Carry plenty of water and snacks.
• Store your blood glucose meter, strips and insulin in a cool, dry place. Do not store insulin in extreme temperatures. Never store insulin in the freezer, in direct sunlight, in the car or the car’s glove compartment. Examine your vials of insulin. Clear insulin (Regular, Humalog, Novolog, Apidra, Lantus, Levemir) should remain clear. NPH insulin should not have any clumping or “frosting” on the vials.
Source: Joslin Diabetes Center, www.joslin.org