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  • 1.  Warm weather hypos

    Posted 05-11-2020 14:16
    Hi Everyone
    Hope you are all enjoying the spring weather.  But .....
    is anyone experiencing more hypos since it got warmer?  I had to increase my insulins slightly during winter. My CDE said this is not uncommon with the cold weather and getting less Vitamin D.
    Over the last week or so I have had more lows - 3.8/3.9 than I have had altogether for a long time. I am adjusting both my insulin down by half units to see if this works. I hate the cold and do find it impacts on both blood pressure and BGLs but was not aware of the impact of VitD/sunshine on the impact of insulin.
    Should have this under control now that I have thought about what is happening, but was wondering if anyone is similarly effected.
    I find that the low BGLs, even in the 4s, are leaving me more tired than they use to, but it may be the lingering effects of a bad cold a couple of weeks ago as well.
    Enjoy the ☀️ 
    Cheers

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    Rochelle
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  • 2.  RE: Warm weather hypos

    Posted 06-11-2020 08:26
    Hi Rochelle
    Yes I do tend to go low more when the weather is hot - not so much at this time of year but in mid-summer when we have those really hot days and nights in Brisbane, I notice that in general I have more trouble with lows.  A high proportion of my most severe lows have been in those conditions. I am not really sure of why this occurs but heat wave conditions  are well recognized as  a source of physiological stress. Just what the biochemical pathway is  - maybe our health professionals could delve into that?

    Stay cool - if you can.

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    Jan
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  • 3.  RE: Warm weather hypos

    Posted 06-11-2020 14:59
    Hi Janice
    It is somewhat reassuring to know you are not the only one. I  find that when it is really hot my blood pressure drops as well so it is trying to work out which is the problem - finger prick test for that. But I love summer - well most of the time.
    Kind regards
    Rochelle



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  • 4.  RE: Warm weather hypos

    Posted 06-11-2020 10:33
    I also tend to slightly increase my insulin in the winter then decrease it in the warmer weather.  But I have realised that in my case, I don't believe it's just because of the weather.  In the winter I tend to be a bit more sedentary, rugged up inside, but when the weather is good I keep very busy in the garden doing some pretty heavy work on my 1 acre property.  I also take vitamin D supplements year-round as having had innumerous skin cancers I keep covered up in the sun head to toes.  My diet, although generally very healthy and diabetic-friendly, is also seasonally quite different which requires some insulin adjustments.



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  • 5.  RE: Warm weather hypos

    Posted 06-11-2020 14:58
    ​Thanks for your query about warm weather affecting insulin requirements and the reasons why this occurs. You are certainly right, heat does affect how the body uses insulin and therefore insulin requirements. For those who increased their insulin during the cooler months it would be important to assess when to change back to the lower insulin doses. Heat itself could also induce stress and perhaps higher blood glucose levels. Factors such as heart disease, circulation issues and overweight or obesity can also influence how the body copes with heat. Diabetes related changes to blood vessels and nerves decrease the ability of sweat glands to help cool the body too.

    If only the answer was a simple one, however it often isn't!

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    Live Your Life Community Team
    Natasha and Erin
    membership@diabetesqld.org.au
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    Original Message