High Temperatures, Low Stress: A Guide to Diabetes Management in the Heat

Summer is often a time of rest, relaxation, and playing in the sunshine but it can also be a time of difficulty managing diabetes, given the lack of usual routines. Similarly, vacations to warmer locales can bring excitement, but can also bring stress in navigating a chronic disease on the go. Below are some tips to make diabetes care more manageable while beating the heat!

• Create new routines: Although summertime and vacations often lack the more rigid structure of school, you can still create new routines for your days. For example, consider building in scheduled outdoor physical activity in the early morning before the hottest temperatures or an outdoor dinner in the early evenings before the sun sets.
• Stay cool and keep hydrated: Hot temperatures can cause an increased risk of dehydration. Drink plenty of water, keep a closer watch on blood glucoses as patterns may change, and do not leave insulin in the heat (e.g., in a hot, parked car).
• Be careful with your technology: While continuous glucose monitors can be submerged in the water, tubed insulin pumps cannot and need to be disconnected. Tubeless insulin pumps (pods) can go in standard swimming pools, but cannot be used while on a prolonged or very deep scuba dive. Also be mindful not to spray sunscreen or bug spray directly on devices.
• Bring supplies and then extras: If traveling, this is not the time to pack light. Your diabetes doctor may be unable to prescribe in other states or overseas, so you’ll want to plan ahead and make sure you have all your supplies for blood glucose monitoring and insulin administration. It is good practice to bring extra to account for unanticipated issues (e.g. extra sweating in the heat causing adhesives to peel off).
• Advocate in the airport: If you are flying, ask your diabetes doctor for a travel letter to use while going through security and read the American Diabetes Association helpful tips on air travel with diabetes. All supplies, even sharps like needles for insulin pens or lancets and juice for low glucose treatments, can and should be brought onto the airplane with you. You can also request a “pat-down” rather than metal detector or imaging scanner if you prefer.
• Do not forget about time zone changes: If you are going somewhere exotic, or even to a neighboring state, be aware of time changes which can cause confusion for timing of insulin injections. Wearable devices may not automatically update and may require manually resetting the time. Remember to change the time back when you get home.
• Ask for help: Especially if it is your first summer or vacation after diagnosis of diabetes, or even if it’s your fifth or tenth, never hesitate to reach out to your diabetes doctor with questions!