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Diabetes UK have put together these tips for the warmer weather that is forecast - The UK Health Security Agency has now issued an amber heat alert for all of England, lasting until Monday 23rd June, with temperatures likely to exceed 30C over the weekend.
Diabetes UK’s tips for staying sun-safe are:
Check blood sugar levels
If you usually check your own blood sugar levels, do this more often and be ready to adjust your diet or insulin dose if you take insulin. If you plan on doing activities in the sun, like going for a swim, check your levels beforehand. You may need to eat some extra carbohydrate at your meal before, or as an extra snack. This can help prevent levels going lower or having a hypo. Always treat a hypo in your usual way and keep something sugary to hand too, such as your usual hypo treatment, just in case. Try to avoid doing activity in the hottest part of day.
Keep meters and test strips away from the sun
Extreme temperatures can also affect blood glucose meters and test strips. If you use these, keep your meter and test strips as close to normal room temperature as possible and out of direct sunlight, but don’t refrigerate them as cold temperatures can also lead to misleading results.
Using diabetes technology in the sun
If you use diabetes technology, it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and your healthcare team’s advice.
If you wear a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) sensor and need to change it, avoid getting any sunscreen on your insertion site. Clean the area thoroughly before applying the new sensor so it sticks properly. The same applies to an insulin pump if you need to change the insertion site.
Be aware your pump reservoir may need changing more frequently due to insulin warming up.
Cover your pump under a towel when sunbathing, to avoid heating of insulin. If your blood sugar levels seem higher for no particular reason, it’s possible that the insulin in your reservoir may have been damaged by the heat so consider changing it.
Store insulin properly
If you take insulin to treat your diabetes, keep a close eye on how you store it. If your blood sugar levels are consistently higher than expected, it's worth considering whether your insulin could have been damaged in the sun. Insulin, in the hot weather especially, is best kept in the fridge or a cool bag (taking care that it does not freeze).
When damaged by heat, clear insulin generally becomes cloudy, and cloudy insulin becomes grainy and sticks in the side of the glass. Insulin that has been exposed to bright sunlight sometimes has a brownish colour. Do not use insulin that looks like this. Speak to your GP or a healthcare professional if you're unsure.
Other medications, such as tablets usually should be kept as close to normal room temperature as possible. Check the patient information leaflet that comes with your medication for information on how to store it safely.
Stay hydrated
Whether you’re being active or just relaxing, everyone knows that hot weather will make you sweat. This is your body's natural way of cooling down, but you’ll need to replace the fluids lost.
Drinking water or sugar free soft drinks will help you to stay hydrated. Carry drinks with you and make sure you have regular sips. Becoming dehydrated increases the risk of hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic syndrome (HHS) or diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Other top tips
When you're out and about in the sun, remember to:
Douglas Twenefour, Head of Clinical at Diabetes UK, said:
For more information about managing diabetes in the hot weather, visit diabetes.org.uk.
Diabetes UK’s tips for staying sun-safe are:
Check blood sugar levels
If you usually check your own blood sugar levels, do this more often and be ready to adjust your diet or insulin dose if you take insulin. If you plan on doing activities in the sun, like going for a swim, check your levels beforehand. You may need to eat some extra carbohydrate at your meal before, or as an extra snack. This can help prevent levels going lower or having a hypo. Always treat a hypo in your usual way and keep something sugary to hand too, such as your usual hypo treatment, just in case. Try to avoid doing activity in the hottest part of day.
Keep meters and test strips away from the sun
Extreme temperatures can also affect blood glucose meters and test strips. If you use these, keep your meter and test strips as close to normal room temperature as possible and out of direct sunlight, but don’t refrigerate them as cold temperatures can also lead to misleading results.
Using diabetes technology in the sun
If you use diabetes technology, it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and your healthcare team’s advice.
If you wear a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) sensor and need to change it, avoid getting any sunscreen on your insertion site. Clean the area thoroughly before applying the new sensor so it sticks properly. The same applies to an insulin pump if you need to change the insertion site.
Be aware your pump reservoir may need changing more frequently due to insulin warming up.
Cover your pump under a towel when sunbathing, to avoid heating of insulin. If your blood sugar levels seem higher for no particular reason, it’s possible that the insulin in your reservoir may have been damaged by the heat so consider changing it.
Store insulin properly
If you take insulin to treat your diabetes, keep a close eye on how you store it. If your blood sugar levels are consistently higher than expected, it's worth considering whether your insulin could have been damaged in the sun. Insulin, in the hot weather especially, is best kept in the fridge or a cool bag (taking care that it does not freeze).
When damaged by heat, clear insulin generally becomes cloudy, and cloudy insulin becomes grainy and sticks in the side of the glass. Insulin that has been exposed to bright sunlight sometimes has a brownish colour. Do not use insulin that looks like this. Speak to your GP or a healthcare professional if you're unsure.
Other medications, such as tablets usually should be kept as close to normal room temperature as possible. Check the patient information leaflet that comes with your medication for information on how to store it safely.
Stay hydrated
Whether you’re being active or just relaxing, everyone knows that hot weather will make you sweat. This is your body's natural way of cooling down, but you’ll need to replace the fluids lost.
Drinking water or sugar free soft drinks will help you to stay hydrated. Carry drinks with you and make sure you have regular sips. Becoming dehydrated increases the risk of hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic syndrome (HHS) or diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Other top tips
When you're out and about in the sun, remember to:
- Wear long sleeves, loose trousers, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses with wraparound lenses or wide arms with the CE Mark and British Standard Mark 12312-1:2013 E
- Apply sun cream to exposed areas of your body 15 to 30 minutes before going out in the sun and reapply every two hours when you’re still outside. Check the sunscreen bottle and following the instructions on application as this can vary.
- Always wear something on your feet. If you have neuropathy, you may not be aware of your feet burning, so wear sun cream and flip flops on hot ground.
- In very hot weather keep out of the heat if you can. If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm when sun is the strongest.
Douglas Twenefour, Head of Clinical at Diabetes UK, said:
“Sitting in the sun for long periods may affect your diabetes if you're not being very active, making blood sugar levels higher than usual. On the flipside, if you take insulin to treat your diabetes, it will be absorbed more quickly from the injection site in warm weather, and this increases the risk of hypos.
“However, the important thing to remember is that, if you are careful about managing your diabetes, there's no reason you can't have fun in the sun like anybody else.”
For more information about managing diabetes in the hot weather, visit diabetes.org.uk.