Friday, 20 June 2025

It's hot - heatwave health alert and ways to cope with Type 1 Diabetes in the heat

The UK has been experiencing HOT weather recently, with more to come, and an amber heat-health alert has been issued for parts of the UK. I understand that a UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warning will be in force until Monday 23 June for affected areas,(this could be updated). The agency suggests people shade or cover windows exposed to direct sunlight, check fans and fridges are working properly, and that medicines are correctly stored.

It reminded me of a blog-post I originally posted in 2018. But what was written then is still very relevant today...

Emma Baird (a type 1 diabetic ) writes:
"If you’re a type 1, what special precautions do you need to take when the mercury rises? I prepared this handy infographic to help…


Please note—if you have neuropathy (nerve damage) this can affect your ability to sweat and therefore cool down. Go out early in the morning or later in the afternoon if you can, drink water to stay hydrated and exercise in air-conditioned gyms. Cut down on drinks with caffeine and alcohol, and take care of yourself as best you can."
This and more from Diabetes Diet Blog here


Of course wherever you live some days can just be too hot, and on these sort of days it is important to stay hydrated. Sometimes the easiest way is to use water from your kitchen tap, but bottled water can also be a great help. Of course on a hot day, why not boost your hydration with juicy foods. The ones shown on the post called 'When its hot stay hydrated' are around 80-90% water by weight, and you can read the post here

Another heatwave related post is '
Heatwave warning : Some common medications increase the risk of overheating and dehydration' read it here

Are you experiencing hot weather at the moment? How do you stay cool?
Please share your thoughts in the comments.

This blog brings a variety of articles and recipe ideas, and it is important to note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use a reliable meter. If you have any concerns about your health it is always advisable to consult your Doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan

28 comments:

  1. READERS PLEASE BE AWARE, that articles within this blog are provided for general information only and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor, pharmacist or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider.

    All the best Jan

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  2. These are good tips. My daughter is Type 1 and I'm going to pass this on to her.

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  3. ...I drink plenty of water!

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  4. As you know I struggle in the heat and follow these tips. Fortunately we are in winter here, and I am loving it.

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  5. Good tips -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com

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  6. Cuídate mucho. Te mando un beso.

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  7. All useful tips,
    I think they apply to almost all of us.
    I will keep drinking unboiled water!
    Thank you very much!!

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  8. Good advice and tips, Jan. I basically do nothing on our warm days because I can. lol

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  9. It's meant to be really hot up here too and I am not looking forward to it! Drink plenty water is always a winner and hide inside with the fans on!

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  10. Sensible advice. Sometimes we have to make a conscious effort to drink more water.

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  11. It's forecast to be 30 degrees here today, too hot for me, but the house is nice and cool as I open all the windows to allow whatever breeze there is to pass through, so I shall be indoors for most of the day.

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  12. THis couldn't be more timely -- we'll be in the 90s by tomorrow and 100s (F) over the next few days. Naturally, in a case of typically bad timing, I returned from the lake last night for appointments this week! Diabetic or not, these tips are excellent.

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  13. Hello,
    Stay cool! It is going to be a hot and humid week for us.
    Take care, happy Friday! Have a great weekend.

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  14. What wonderful information. The heat is coming here too. Thank you. xx.

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  15. What excellent information here, Jan. Thank you for sharing. We've been experiencing hot weather here as well.

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  16. Thanks for the excellent suggestions!

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  17. It's hot where I live. I make sure to drink plenty of water during the day.

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  18. I drink plenty of water. We had a few days of heat here in Montreal, the temperature was 35 celsius on one of those days with the humidity. It is due to get worse, as from Sunday to Tuesday the temperature will be 30 to 33, before the humidity, which will put it up to at least 35, if not higher. I do not handle this type of heat well at all. I truly appreciate your posts, dear Jan, and for sure I use them as a good guideline, certainly not to replace any medical advice. I appreciate the time you put into sharing these.

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  19. I tend to be chilly all the time. For me the risk is over-heating.

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  20. This N That said...
    We are going to have that heat wave all next week. I'm not looking forward to it. Summer has started and I'm eager for fall !!

    https://missymax-thisandthat.blogspot.com/

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  21. wonderfully informative post about the heat impact on all of us really ~ hugs,

    Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
    A ShutterBug Explores ~ clm
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  22. We are expecting a heat wave this coming week. I need to keep water beside me all the time so that I drink enough.

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  23. It has been very HOT here too, we are under extreme heat warnings, when it is this hot and so humid it is almost hard to breathe out there, I hope everyone keeps safe!

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  24. Good advice on how to take care of ourselves in very hot weather whether we are diabetic or not.

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  25. Muy buenos consejos. Aquí en Cáceres, Extremadura, España, está haciendo mucho calor, tal vez 40 grados centígrados, nosotros estamos en casa con el aíre acondicionado puesto, salimos por la mañana a comprar y después a casa. Abrazos.

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  26. GOOGLE TRANSLATE

    J.P. Alexander
    Cuídate mucho. Te mando un beso

    Take care of yourself. I send you a kiss.

    Teresa
    Muy buenos consejos. Aquí en Cáceres, Extremadura, España, está haciendo mucho calor, tal vez 40 grados centígrados, nosotros estamos en casa con el aíre acondicionado puesto, salimos por la mañana a comprar y después a casa. Abrazos

    Very good advice. Here in Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain, it's very hot, maybe 40 degrees Celsius. We're at home with the air conditioning on. We go out in the morning to go shopping and then go home. Hugs.

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