What to Know about Diabetes and Heat Intolerance

While most of us welcome the warm rays of the summer, it can be a different story if you have diabetes. Diabetes and heat intolerance can affect you whether you are Type 1 and Type 2.

Understand impact of heat on diabetes

There are several reasons why people with diabetes may feel the heat more than people who do not have the disease. Diabetes temperature sensitivity can result in:

Damage to blood vessels and nerves: Some complications of diabetes and heat intolerance, such as damage to blood vessels and nerves, can damage sweat glands, which means the body cannot cool effectively. This can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke, both of which are medical emergencies.

Dehydration: Another risk of the heat is dehydration. If you have diabetes, you lose too much water from your body more quickly in high heat. Not drinking enough liquids can raise blood sugar. And high blood sugar can make you urinate more, causing dehydration.  Signs of mild to moderate dehydration include:[1]

• Fatigue
• Decreased urination
• Increased thirst
• Dizziness or light headed
• Headache

More extreme dehydration can lead to:

• Excessive thirst
• Dark-colored urine
• Low blood pressure
• Rapid heart rate

Insulin use: You may question can heat affect blood sugar levels? The answer is yes. Heat can affect how your body uses insulin. Dehydration reduces blood supply to your skin and, as a result, the ability of your body to absorb the insulin you have injected is reduced.[2] You may need to test your blood glucose level more often and adjust dosages as well as what you eat and drink. If you use insulin or if your blood sugars are not effectively controlled, you could be at a higher risk of diabetes heat illness.

Damage to test equipment and medications: Another issue related to diabetes and heat intolerance has to do with the effect of extreme temperatures on testing equipment and medications. Most types of insulin can tolerate temperatures up to 93-95 degrees Fahrenheit. If you expose insulin to anything higher, it will make the medication quickly break down.  Heat also can affect the effectiveness of test strips and monitoring devices. Make sure to protect your supplies of both during summer and extremes of winter, too, so you can rely on their performance. [3]

Humidity also can be a problem

Heat is not the only problem in warmer months. Humidity can add to the danger. When sweat evaporates (dries) on your skin, it removes heat and cools you. Sweat cannot evaporate as well in high humidity, so it is harder to stay cool.[4]

The CDC says, during the hot weather, check the heat index. The heat index is a measurement that combines temperature and humidity. Take steps to stay cool when it reaches 80°F in the shade with 40% humidity or above. Important to know: The heat index can be up to 15°F higher in full sunlight, so stick to the shade when the weather warms up.[5]

Steps to avoid diabetes heat illness

To avoid diabetes heat illness, the CDC advises: [6]

• Drink plenty of water—even if you are not thirsty—so you do not get dehydrated.
• Avoid alcohol and drinks with caffeine, like coffee, soda, and energy or sports drinks. They can lead to water loss and spike your blood sugar levels.
• Check your blood sugar before, during, and after you are active. You may need to change how much insulin you use.
• Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Wear sunscreen and a hat when you are outside. Sunburn can raise your blood sugar levels.
• Do not go barefoot, even on the beach or at the pool.
• Use your air conditioner or go to an air-conditioned building or mall to stay cool. In very high heat, a room fan will not cool you enough.

Enjoy the summer months, but do no let heat and humidity create a dangerous situation. Stay ahead of the heat by taking the proper precautions.

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[1] Larson, Jennifer, “How Do Heat and Humidity Affect Diabetes, Healthline, June 29, 2021. https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/diabetes-and-heat

[2] “How to Manages Your Diabetes in Extreme Summer Heat,” Cleveland Clinic, Accessed July 25, 2024. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-manage-your-diabetes-in-extreme-summer-heat

[3] Ibid

[4] “Heat and Diabetes are a Dangerous Combination,” Diabetes Voice, Accessed July 25, 2024. https://diabetesvoice.org/en/living-with-diabetes/extreme-heat-and-diabetes/

[5] “Managing Diabetes in the Heat,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Accessed July 25, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/articles/managing-diabetes-in-the-heat.html

[6] Ibid