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July 15, 2010
Summer is finally here! It’s a good time to talk about diabetes and hot weather. High heat and humidity play havoc on diabetics, affecting perspiration, medication and supplies.
And the weather doesn’t have to be in triple digits to affect you. Many diabetics don’t take preventative measures until it is too late. With an impaired ability to sweat, diabetics are predisposed to heat-related illness, as do uncontrolled, high blood sugars. Heat illnesses can take place at 80 to 90 degrees when you factor in the heat index.
Hot weather can lead to changes in your daily routine that can affect your blood glucose.
For example, you may eat less or eat more, be more active and/or exert yourself more.
Other considerations in hot weather:
- Avoid sunburn, it can stress your body and can raise your blood glucose. Wear a good sunscreen, sunglasses and hat when out in the sun.
- Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Carry a bottle of water with you on walks, etc.
- Exercise and do more strenuous activities in the early or later hours of the day when the temperatures are cooler and the sun is not at its peak.
- Whenever your daily routine changes, test your blood glucose more often.
- Remember, extreme temperature changes can have an effect on your diabetes supplies; insulin can break down in extreme heat, heat and humidity can damage blood glucose meters and test strips, and altitude can affect blood glucose meter performance.
Often, in the summer season, people are more active and insulin requirements change. For example, many farmers with diabetes have considerably lower insulin requirements in the summer months when they are out in the fields vs. the winter months when they are inside and more sedate.
For more information visit our Diabetes page.
I hope you're having a wonderful summer and I look forward to reading your comments.
Be well,
-Christopher Lau, MD
NECC Executive Director/CEO
Or you can send a check to:
Development Dept.
Northeast Community Clinics
2550 W. Main St.
Alhambra, CA 91801
Community Medical Alliance, NECC’s Bell clinic, was all over the Spanish-speaking television recently, as the clinic opened from 5 to 8 a.m., Friday, July 9, to offer free scoliosis and BMI screening to the community.
Univision’s KMEX TV News (Channel 34) reporter, Annabelle Sedano, reported live from the clinic four times an hour, interviewing Bernard Carrillo, Director of NECC Clinic Services, various NECC clinic staff, enrollers and patients. The prior Wednesday, July 7, Clinic Manager, Sandy Wooten, appeared on the 5 a.m., 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. news broadcasts to promote the event.
“People were lined up outside the clinic most of the morning and our exam rooms and waiting rooms were filled to capacity,” reports Sandy. “It’s gratifying that so many people from the community have found a new healthcare home.”
Similar broadcasts are planned throughout the next three months for other NECC clinics.
Take a look at our full set of photos on our NECC Flickr page.
Amy Streets, (far left with white sweater), poses with her team at Vitamin Angels of Santa Barbara, CA. Vitamin Angels recently donated four palettes (more than 5,000 doses) of children's vitamins to NECC clinics.
Thank you, Vitamin Angels, from all the children who are patients of NECC. You are NECC's angels! |
