Controlling BG in hot weather

[itsallgood]

Hi All, wondering if anyone else is having this problem..

Just got back from a week's holiday in a very hot place. I didn't take my BG meter with me but I was quite good food-wise (minimal carbs, plenty of protein but with less excercise) and I actually lost about a third of stone, so I'm currently at 13 1/4 stone.

The problem I'm having is that since returning 4 days ago I've not had a BG reading below 8 which is unusual, normally I'm between 6 and 8 pre-prandial. Could this be a result of the heat or is it a reaction to taking in less carbs than usual, with the old liver trying to compensate?

Not sure I'll ever understand how it all fits together

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Wouldn't expect it to be down to reduced carb intake (which is more likely to help I would have thought). If you are very low carbing I suppose you might be getting better at converting protein to glucose - but I don't really know how that works in T2 terms.

Any stress/illness?

 

[itsallgood]

Hi Everyday, the only stress was the journey, a few hiccups along the way but nothing too bad really. I'm back at work now and it can be a little stressful on return I suppose. I feel otherwise absolutely fine, no illness as far as I know.

Perhaps it'll settle down after a week or so.

Am I right in thinking that even long-term a reading around 8 isn't really going to do any harm, just raise the risk a bit (or am I being too optimistic there)?

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I have satisfied myself that an occasional 8 is going to be fine (difficult to avoid as a T1). I've read others say anything in single figures keeps them happy. Still others that anything over 7 causes damage.

For me it's more about the long term picture. Constantly at 8 is not as good as constantly below 6, but our metabolisms/pancreases are not playing fair and constantly at 8 is better than constantly at 10. It could even be argued that for some nasties constantly at 8 is better than constantly swinging between 3 and 15 (there is a particular protein involved in eye damage where more is produced in 14 days in a person swinging from low to high BG than in a person who sits solidly at 20! 😱)

In your shoes I'd keep an eye on it and not worry overly about a few days with higher than usual numbers. If it seems to become more of a constant state of affairs then it would probably be worth looking at.

 

[Copepod]

Everydayupsanddowns has covered most points, but I have to ask, Itsallgood, why didn't you take your meter away with you?

Hot weather often helps increase insulin production / reduces insulin resistance, even without the advantages of hot weather encouraging physical activity. Consequently, returning to cooler weather and less activity reverses the situation.

 

[itsallgood]

Ok, now I'm more worried. I'm already blind in one eye from an injury when I was very young and probably the biggest concern to me regarding the D is the fact it might damage my good eye (you may have spotted that my moniker is a bit of a misnomer, but I do try to be optimistic). I like a beer or two after work and that tends to swing the BG up and down lke a yoyo.

I didn't take my meter away because generally I know what foods do what to me and frankly I wanted a short break from it all - any longer than a week and I'd have taken it - my bad on reflection.

Don't really know what to do other than to get back to normal eating (only Burgen bread, tons of spinach, other greens, protien etc.)

Actually one thing I didn't do was eat nearly as much green veg as usual while away and that does tend to reduce the BG I find.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Ok, now I'm more worried. I'm already blind in one eye from an injury when I was very young and probably the biggest concern to me regarding the D is the fact it might damage my good eye (you may have spotted that my moniker is a bit of a misnomer, but I do try to be optimistic). I like a beer or two after work and that tends to swing the BG up and down lke a yoyo.

I didn't take my meter away because generally I know what foods do what to me and frankly I wanted a short break from it all - any longer than a week and I'd have taken it - my bad on reflection.

Don't really know what to do other than to get back to normal eating (only Burgen bread, tons of spinach, other greens, protien etc.)

Actually one thing I didn't do was eat nearly as much green veg as usual while away and that does tend to reduce the BG I find.

As you say, holidays are never the same as being at home and getting back to 'normal eating' will work wonders I'm sure.

For all of us there is always going to be a balancing act between the things we enjoy which cause havoc to our BGs and our desire to avoid long term complications. Your A1c is good which would suggest that your long term likelihood of eye trouble is being kept in check. If you are worried about it make sure you *always* attend your eye screening appointments so that any changes are picked up early. You might also want to talk to your GP/clinic about your concerns.

You will have to measure the cost/benefit of after-work beers yourself, no-one can do that for you. I could suggest a glass of red wine or G & slimline T (far less BG upheaval) but I know that just isn't the same.

 

[itsallgood]

Yes absolutely Everyday, I have my eyes checked by the hospital at least three times a year as I also have glaucoma. Unfortunately I'm allergic to eye drops so I have a slit-lamp exam each time as they can't use dilatory drugs. Happy to report no problems at all so far (in the good eye).

As for the drinking, I do sometimes have a glass of wine instead but I like gin & slimline tonic so much it's positively dangerous to start on it. My bad again.