Does a Hot weather Cause Low Blood Sugar?

You can find it challenging to maintain a healthy sugar level when the temperature starts to rise. But is it true that hot weather lowers blood sugar levels or does it just feel that way? The relationship between hot weather and low blood sugar levels will be discussed in this article.

What causes low blood sugar levels?

When taking insulin, sugar levels may fall. If this occurs, it may indicate that you took too much insulin for the amount of food you ate or that you still had insulin in your system when you started exercising. Low blood sugar can also happen if you’ve skipped a meal or go through hormonal changes that may increase your body’s sensitivity to insulin and predisposition to low blood sugar levels.

Calculating how much insulin a diabetic patient will require for their daily activity and dietary intake involves a constant balancing act. This may be difficult.

If you have diabetes, low blood sugar levels are frequently experienced. It is a component of daily existence. Two episodes of low blood sugar are typical for people with type 1 diabetes every week. If you don’t use exogenous insulin to manage your diabetes, you could still have low sugar from fasting intervals, lower-carbohydrate meals, vigorous activity, and frequent hormonal shifts. You’re less likely to suffer low blood sugar levels, though, and when you do, they’re less likely to be severe.

What signs indicate low blood sugar?

Understanding the warning signs and symptoms of low blood sugar is crucial. These consist of:

• Shakiness
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Confusion
• Sweating
• quick heartbeat
• Nervousness
• Hunger
• difficulty concentrating
• Irritability

Severe low sugar symptoms include:

• Unsteady speech
• Uncertain thoughts
• Unconsciousness
• Seizures
• Coma
• Rare occasions, death

Does the heat of the summer cause low blood sugar?

Although it may seem that the heat and humidity cause your sugar levels to spike, this is only true if you have active insulin in your body. However, heat may cause your blood vessels to widen.

This boosts the body’s ability to absorb insulin, which lowers sugar levels and occasionally causes a sugar drop. If you have active insulin in your system and are outside in the heat and humidity, you may be more prone to low blood sugar levels.

Avoiding low blood sugar in a hot environment

There are several important techniques to guard against low blood sugar episodes in the heat. Although you might not be able to stop all low sugar level, utilising the following techniques may be helpful:

• It is preferable to avoid the hottest parts of the day’s heat and humidity. If you must use hot water, such as in a hot tub or shower, be careful not to have a lot of insulin on you.
• Before venturing outside into the heat, have an additional snack, preferably one that has fat and protein to help keep your sugar levels stable.
• Don’t become dehydrated by drinking a lot of water.
• Always check twice before ingesting the amount of insulin you are injecting.
• To better understand how your snacks and meals will affect your sugar levels, count the carbohydrates you consume.
• You can prevent low sugar from becoming harmful by wearing a continuous glucose monitor that can check your sugar levels closely.
• Avoid alcohol since it can lower blood sugar levels.
• Keep a backup snack on hand to treat any sudden low levels, and always carry glucagon with you.

How can you maintain my health in the summertime heat?

Despite the summer heat, you can maintain your health.

The advice below could be helpful:

• Drink lots of water to stay hydrated because doing so lowers your risk of developing high sugar.
• Wear sunscreen constantly.
• Put on a hat
• Keep to the shade.
• Check your blood sugar levels frequently, especially before, during, and after physical activity.
• Strive to work out inside, ideally with air conditioning.
• Always keep a supply of emergency food on hand.
• Always have glucagon on hand
• Wear breathable, lightweight, and loose-fitting clothing.
• Never leave insulin in a hot automobile; always keep your prescriptions, especially insulin, in a cool spot.
• Keep your diabetes supplies, such as those for insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGM), in a cold, dry location.

Conclusion

You might need to check your sugar levels more regularly when it’s hot outside so you can regulate your insulin and diet as needed. If you’re unclear about the ideal schedule, consult your endocrinologist or a trained diabetes care and education professional for advice.