As much as we would all love to go back to the sunny weather and beautiful beaches of August, now that the cold is seeping back in and most of you have already seen a snow flake or two, it is important to learn how to protect your blood sugar levels from the effects of the chill.
During winter months, people with diabetes of all types tend to have higher A1C levels. Blood sugar levels creep up while the temperatures plunge. One of the reasons for this is that cold is a stressor on the body, and a reaction to stress is raised blood sugar levels. But the cold weather itself is not the only culprit- the colder months present everyone with big hurdles and potential pitfalls for diabetes management. The holiday season is one big temptation after another. And if you live in the northern climates with long winters, going out into the cold to exercise doesn’t sound so appealing.
So we’ve put together a few tips to help you deal with the cold and keep your blood sugar levels at bay:
- Keep your hands warm so you can keep testing: The cold weather can leave you with cold hands which make blood testing more difficult. So put on those mittens and keep testing your blood sugar regularly! Regular testing will help you catch any potential highs or lows and keep your sugar under control. Your Dario smart meter can help you with that!
- Don’t miss your workouts: You don’t even need to leave your home to work out- put on an aerobics video, play a game on Wii, do some yoga or just dance to your favorite tunes. Exercise increases insulin sensitivity, keeps you warm and is good for your psyche!
- Stay away from the comfort and holiday foods! Cold weather usually makes people eat more- which is a natural response as your body needs more calories to heat itself. But make sure not to over eat, and don’t be tempted by ‘comfort foods’ like ready meals, takeaways and snacks. The holiday season is also just around the corner- with all of its culinary temptations and big family meals. Make sure to eat and drink with moderation!
- Try not to get sick: Controlling your blood sugar while sick is hard. It usually rises in response to viruses. So try to stay healthy by keeping yourself warm, eat healthy, don’t leave the house if you are not feeling 100%, wash your hands regularly or use hand sanitizer, and go get your flu shot (check out our blog post about flu shots here).
- Don’t let the blues win! Wintertime gets many people down. The cold and unpleasant weather, the lack of sunlight and the stress of the holidays (and post holidays) all leave their mark. But don’t let depression win! Talk to a professional, a friend or other people with Diabetes (like on the Dario lounge).
- Keep your supplies out of the cold: Just like extreme heat, extreme cold can also affect your insulin and glucose monitor. So don’t leave your supplies in your car!
- Keep an eye on your feet: Diabetes can cause a loss of feeling in your toes and feet. Protect them with the right winter footwear, make sure the skin is moisturized and inspect them regularly for any injury that doesn’t heal.
Having said all that, the winter season is not so bad! Waking up to fresh snow all around, the holidays with all of the lights, meeting family and friends and getting gifts is fun and has no comparison in the summertime. So keep up your mood and follow these simple tips to ensure a safe and enjoyable winter season!
By Liran Julia Grunhaus