First published in July 2021. Updated in June 2024.
Summer is officially here, and for people with type 1 diabetes (T1D), this means having to remember a lot of things. First of all, heat can affect your blood glucose levels and the proper functioning of your equipment (e.g., glucometer, insulin pumps, CGM). Also, wearing a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) or an insulin pump can make swimming more challenging.
However, it’s possible to make the most of summer by following these strategies and tips.
1-Keep your (insulin and supplies) cool
Are you planning to spend all day soaking up the sun? Is your child living with T1D going to day camp and will they be outdoors a lot? Make sure to keep insulin and supplies out of the sun and heat. High temperatures can make insulin less effective and affect how your equipment works (e.g., pump, test strips, CGM, nasal glucagon).
So, when you’re on a summer getaway, keep insulin and supplies in a portable cooler or fridge (kept cool with electricity or with ice packs). If using ice, be careful to keep the insulin away from the ice since it mustn’t freeze! If your child is going to camp, ask the camp counselors to keep their insulin pens (or vials) in a fridge and the rest of their equipment in the shade (or preferably somewhere cool indoors).
If these options are unavailable, or if you or your child use an insulin pump, various cases or pouches are available to keep insulin (vials and/or pens) or the insulin pump cool in hot weather.
Some cool accessories:
- Cases designed to cool themselves by absorbing and releasing thermal energy depending on the ambient temperature. For example, BreezyPacks can keep your insulin cool all day long.
- Pouches, like the ones made by FRIO and Glucology, composed of crystals that turn into a cold gel when in contact with water. Soak them in water and they’ll stay cool for 36 to 45 hours. When they’re no longer cold, soak them again for 5 to 10 minutes to reactivate cooling.
- Thermos-style cases (e.g., 4allfamily) to keep your pens or insulin vials cool for 30 to 72 hours (depending on models). They recharge via USB cable.
- Isothermal travel cases (rigid or flexible) with cool packs that last 4 to 6 hours (available from several online sites).
2- Check your blood sugar levels… frequently
Blazing heat, sunburn, and spending more time outside can cause unusual blood sugar variations. For example, when it’s hot, your body can absorb insulin more quickly, putting you at risk of low blood sugar, especially if you move around a lot. Regularly check your blood sugar levels to gain a better understanding of how summer factors can impact you.
3- Stay hydrated
This may seem obvious, but it is particularly important during the summer heat. Failing to drink enough water can raise your blood sugar which, in turn, will make you urinate more frequently and cause dehydration. Drink water regularly to avoid this vicious cycle.
4- Slather on the sunscreen
While everybody must protect their skin from dangerous UV rays, people with T1D, especially, must avoid sunburn, which needlessly causes additional stress to the body and can provoke blood sugar spikes. Make sure to use sunscreen with FPS 30 or higher and reapply it every two hours and after swimming or sweating profusely.
5- Don’t forget the snacks!
With your blood sugar all over the place due to the heat and possibly a higher rate of physical activity (e.g., walking, swimming), beware of hypoglycemia sneaking in. When going on a hike or any summer outing, or when your child is at camp or with friends all day, make sure to pack snacks and quick-acting sugar (and don’t forget nasal glucagon).
6- Physical activity, yes, but…when the time (and temperature) is right
If you do a physical activity outside, try to do so at dusk or dawn when the heat is lower to avoid unusual blood sugar variation and undue strain on your body. Also, remember that even if you work out when the temperature is cooler, you will still sweat. Sweating can make it harder to feel hypoglycemia. And high humidity can damage your pump.
These tips and tricks can make all the difference to your health and well-being during the summer months and will help you to tackle all the challenges that come with managing your blood sugar during hotter weather. Maybe you have tried other strategies? Please share your experience with us!
Have a great summer!
Written by: the BETTER team
Linguistic revision by: Barbara Kelly
