Why maintaining good blood glucose levels isn't easy...

[TheClockworkDodo]

Having a neuro-immune disease that causes randomly delayed reactions to everything including insulin and exercise doesn't make it onto the list! - but then that's going to be pretty rare. Hot baths, hot water bottles, and hot flushes are a more surprising omission - outside temperature doesn't really cover it.

I am so glad they included allergies though, as they have a huge effect on my bgs, probably more than anything, but for me they should be in environmental as well as biological.

 

[Hepato-pancreato]

Hallelujah! Said this ages ago. We are all so different like autism! We are on different spectrums.

 

[Beck S]

Does heat make BG rise?

 

[mikeyB]

Both rise and fall, Beck. Hot weather can cause dehydration, raising the BG, but the higher metabolism can also produce hypos for those on glucose lowering medication such as Gliclazide and Insulin.

 

[Beck S]

Thanks Mike, learned something new!

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

I've discovered it varies from insulin to insulin too - when I was on Lantus as a basal I needed twice as much of both my basal and bolus insulins in summer as I needed in winter, but now I'm on Tresiba as a basal I think I need slightly less bolus in summer than in winter, and about the same amount of basal.

 

[Mark Parrott]

Well that chart certainly gives food for tghought (no pun intended) summers on its way & the hot tub will be in use, do I test my bg before or after immersion, & far to embarrassed to ask about sex.................... head down with red face 🙂
Joking aside a very informative chart.

We have an inflatable hot tub & moved it into the conservatory for the Winter so we can still use it. I definitely get lower BG's after a good soak.

 

[Robin]

We have an inflatable hot tub & moved it into the conservatory for the Winter so we can still use it. I definitely get lower BG's after a good soak.

There was something on Trust me I'm a Doctor, a couple of seasons back, that studied the effect of having a hot bath on blood glucose, and found they had a lowering effect, it was put forward as a means to reduce your levels if you were unable to exercise.

 

[chaoticcar]

Does a hot shower have the same effect ( don't have a bath )?
CAROL

 

[trophywench]

Dunno - I've never been hypo in the bath or the shower - but regularly am if I spend more than the recommended 20 mins in the hot tub.

You aren't actually fully immersed in water in either the bath or the shower, but perhaps if you enjoy very hot baths it could still happen?

 

[Lisa66]

It's an interesting thread. I like reading the science or reasoning behind why things happen. However, last summer when it was hot and everyone here seemed to be going low, I and one other (sorry can't remember who) were going high. This week my readings have been decidedly lower than normal, all of a sudden, all week, for no apparent reason. Out and about in colder weather maybe...who knows? Not me that's for sure. I give up... surrender.... will just keep toddling along with a generally puzzled look on my face

 

[Mark Parrott]

There was something on Trust me I'm a Doctor, a couple of seasons back, that studied the effect of having a hot bath on blood glucose, and found they had a lowering effect, it was put forward as a means to reduce your levels if you were unable to exercise.

Or lazy like me.

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

perhaps if you enjoy very hot baths it could still happen?

Happens to me nearly every time, even when I compensate by eating a biscuit first! If R's not in the house when I have a bath I take glucose into the bathroom, just in case I can't manage to get out and stagger across to bedroom.

It also effects R's hypoglycaemia when he has hot baths - he gets out dizzy and has to sit on the bathmat reading his book for a while before he can get dry.

 

[grainger]

I was warned by DSNs about baths potentially causing hypos especially if it’s what you choose to do after exercise.
Personally I drop maybe .5 but that’s been it so far.