Experts noted that people with hypoglycemia — low blood sugar levels in the body — also need to be cautious during this season as they can also get affected.
A few months back, we discussed the effects of the winter season and cold weather on blood sugar in people with diabetes, arising from various factors, such as reduced physical activity, dietary changes, increased food consumption, and the body’s response to cold temperatures. Today, we are here to explore the other end of the spectrum — the impact of intense heat during the summer season on diabetics. Yes, there lies a connection here, too. But what is it? However, before we go on to decode the link, let’s first understand what diabetes exactly is.
Diabetes is a chronic health condition that significantly impacts the body’s ability to convert food into energy. When we consume food, the body breaks it down into glucose, which is then released into the bloodstream. In response to rising blood glucose levels, the pancreas secretes insulin, acting as a key to allow sugar into the body’s cells for energy utilisation. However, in individuals with diabetes, either insufficient insulin is produced or the body’s utilisation of insulin is compromised. Consequently, leading to excess blood sugar in the bloodstream.
So what happens during summer?
According to research by Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine, which studied almost 3 million geographically diverse patients, very high or low outdoor temperatures increase the occurrence of three potentially life-threatening conditions for people with type 2 diabetes: serious hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), diabetic ketoacidosis (overly acidic blood), and sudden cardiac arrest/ventricular arrhythmia (abrupt loss of heart function/too-fast heart rate).
Agreeing with the findings, Dr Aditi Chopra, Consultant, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road, Bangalore said, “The summer season can be challenging for people with diabetes as they may encounter fluctuations in their blood glucose levels due to many reasons,” adding that diabetics tend to get dehydrated more quickly, provoking an increase in blood glucose levels.
“This can result in an increased need to urinate, which can worsen dehydration and create a vicious cycle,”
Concurring with Dr Chopra that the summer season can significantly affect diabetics, Dr Anusha Nadig, Associate Consultant, Endocrinology, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore said that in summer, diabetic patients are at risk of low and high sugars, along with water and electrolyte imbalance. “People with diabetes get dehydrated very easily. If you don’t hydrate yourself properly, it can raise blood glucose and cause frequent urination, which further adds to water loss from the body,” she said.
Dehydration, however, isn’t the only reason which makes the summer season complicated for diabetics. In some people, diabetes is known to damage the nerves that supply the sweat glands, leading to decreased sweating. “This is a problem, especially in summer, as the body may not cool efficiently, increasing the risk of heat exhaustion,” Dr Chopra said.