DIABETES FOUNDATION OFFERS TIPS FOR COPING WITH MISSISSIPPI SUMMERS

Because the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi understands how unbearable Mississippi summers can be, particularly for people with diabetes, the Foundation offers a few tips for coping with the heat, without losing your cool.

“Mississippi summers are infamous for sunshine, heat and, of course, humidity,” said Irena McClain, MPH, of the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi. “But with the help of the Diabetes Foundation, you can still enjoy the summer without getting a painful sunburn, becoming dehydrated or, worse yet, experiencing dangerous diabetic high or low blood-sugar levels.”

The Foundation offers advice for coping with diabetes during Mississippi summers:

• Be prepared. If planning a vacation, be sure to pack plenty of insulin, syringes and blood-glucose strips, and don’t forget the glucose meter! A one-day trip could become a two-day trip if you have car trouble. Expect the unexpected.
• Regularly apply an SPF 15 or higher sunscreen. Individuals taking certain diabetes medications– Glyburide, Glipizide and Glimepiride– should be aware that these drugs increase the skin’s sensitivity to the sunlight.
• Wear wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses and protective clothing, because second-degree sunburns may result in blisters, which if become infected, could cause blood-sugar levels to rise.
• Avoid dehydration by packing and drinking plenty of water. Always carry more water with you than you think you will need. Dehydration may result in glucose levels rising, and for people taking certain metformin-based medications, dehydration may lead to lactic acidosis.
• Keep diabetes supplies, including oral medications, cool and out of the sunlight and heat. The heat and sunlight can affect the accuracy of a blood-glucose meter, and insulin loses its potency if it is stored somewhere where the temperature is 86 degrees or hotter.
• Before heading out to a day on the beach or on the trails, be sure to pack healthy snacks and label them with their carbohydrate content, and pack glucose tablets, gel or a juice box to treat hypoglycemia. Chocolate melts, so leave it at home!
• Foot care for people with diabetes is especially important, so be sure to wear closed-toe shoes and pack extra shoes and socks. At the end of the day, check feet for blisters, abrasions, tenderness or redness, and treat them appropriately.

“Get out and enjoy yourself- there is no reason why a person with diabetes cannot live life to its fullest, as long as she or he takes the necessary precautions,” McClain said. “Remember to check your blood glucose every 30 minutes if exercising or participating in outdoor activities, and don’t forget the sunscreen!”

The Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi (DFM) knows that people with diabetes deserve the care, services and compassion that only a local nonprofit organization can give. The Diabetes Foundation is committed to providing a good quality of life and helping hand to all Mississippians whose lives have been touched by this disease. Through patient assistance, diabetes camps for children, community health fairs, educational programs for patients and health-care providers, school programs and support groups, the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi fulfills its promise to serve all Mississippians with diabetes– from the youngest child to the oldest senior citizens.

For more information about the Diabetes Foundation or for additional tips for coping with the heat during scorching Mississippi summertime, call 1-877-DFM-CURE or visit www.msdiabetes.org.