Colder temperatures can have a unfavorable impression on diabetes administration for a variety of causes. Sufferers with diabetes ought to pay attention to the issues that chilly climate poses to their blood glucose ranges. Beneath are six dangers of how colder climate can negatively have an effect on blood glucose ranges and recommendations on tips on how to handle them.
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Colder Temperatures Have an effect on the Physique
In colder temperatures, the physique reacts by releasing hormones to maintain itself heat. These hormones, reminiscent of adrenaline and cortisol, may cause elevated blood sugar ranges. Colder climate additionally decreases blood movement and blood oxygen ranges, which impacts the accuracy of blood glucose monitoring provides.
Sufferers with diabetes needs to be inspired to remain heat and keep away from extraordinarily chilly temperatures. If sufferers should be uncovered to colder temperatures, they need to restrict their publicity and put on layers when outside.
Keep Heat and Keep Energetic
Train is particularly vital for the colder months as a result of it helps to decrease blood sugar, helps the physique use insulin higher, and warms the physique. Train can be identified to enhance sufferers’ moods.
Whereas chilly climate limits bodily exercise, sufferers with diabetes can discover different methods to get energetic. Sufferers can train at their native gyms, attempt yoga, or play dancing video video games, reminiscent of Dance Revolution. Outside choices embody shoveling snow, ice skating, and sledding. The purpose is to get the physique transferring.
Keep away from Getting Sick
Sufferers with diabetes are at extra danger of colds and the flu through the winter months. Being sick stresses the physique, which will increase blood sugar and may make drugs much less efficient.
Vaccination towards the flu, frequent hand-washing with cleaning soap, and wholesome consuming can cut back the possibilities of catching the flu or a chilly. If a affected person does catch a chilly or the flu, consideration needs to be positioned on monitoring blood sugar ranges, staying hydrated, and treating the signs of the chilly with acceptable drugs.
Raynaud’s Phenomenon
Sufferers with diabetes are prone to Raynaud’s phenomenon, an autoimmune situation that causes numbness and nerve ache within the extremities.
Since it’s often introduced on by chilly climate and stress, sufferers with diabetes ought to put on heat gloves or mittens, socks, and well-fitted waterproof sneakers. They need to additionally examine their toes every day for cuts, dry pores and skin, or different abnormalities that don’t heal.
Preserve a Wholesome Weight-reduction plan
The winter months coincide with the vacations, which have a tendency to supply meals heavy in carbohydrates and sugar. These meals can instantly impression blood sugar and trigger weight acquire that leads to issues for sufferers with diabetes, reminiscent of elevated blood stress.
Sufferers needs to be inspired to take part in vacation feasts in moderation, preserve wholesome consuming habits, and repeatedly monitor blood glucose ranges.
Shield Diabetes Provides
Blood glucose screens and strips, in addition to insulin, have to be stored at particular temperatures to be efficient. Extraordinarily low temperatures can stop correct readings or trigger provides to cease working.
Diabetes provides and drugs needs to be saved correctly on the proper temperature and by no means be left in a automobile, whatever the temperature.
Managing these dangers may help sufferers reside wholesome, fulfilling lives through the winter months. Study extra info about how the Eversense® 90-Day CGM System may help.
For an summary of Eversense® Steady Glucose Monitoring system security info, please go to www.ascensiadiabetes.com/Eversense/safety-info/. Please go to www.ascensiadiabetes.com/Eversense for limitations, restrictions, references, and copyright info.
