Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
This summer, doctors in the UAE are urging people with diabetes to pay closer attention to their health, stressing that rising temperatures can make blood sugar levels harder to predict and control.
Heat poses a double threat for diabetics: it accelerates dehydration, and dehydration itself drives blood sugar up, said Dr Saher Ahmad, Family Medicine Consultant and Chair of the Primary Care Department at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi's Medical Specialty Institute.
"Heat and sweating cause dehydration, and dehydration pushes blood sugar up," Dr Ahmad explained.
"Higher blood sugar then makes you urinate more, which dehydrates you further, which raises blood sugar even more - and the cycle just keeps feeding itself."
Extreme heat doesn't just raise blood sugar, as it can swing it in either direction, said Dr Irfanulla Baig, Diabetes and Endocrinology Consultant at the Imperial College London Diabetes and Endocrine Centre.
"Its effects are unpredictable, as high temperatures can cause both hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar) and hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)," Dr Baig said.
Complicating matters further, dehydration and heat exhaustion can mimic the symptoms of hypoglycaemia, making regular glucose checks, adequate hydration and limiting prolonged sun exposure essential, he added.
Know the Warning Signs
Dr Baig urged diabetics to recognise the early signs of dehydration and heat exhaustion, which he said can develop quickly and impair blood sugar control. These include excessive thirst, dizziness and fatigue, and severe or persistent symptoms warrant immediate medical attention.
Dr Huda Ezzeddin, Consultant in Diabetes and Endocrinology at the HealthPlus Diabetes & Endocrinology Center, added dry mouth, muscle cramps and dark urine to the list of early dehydration symptoms.
"Patients with the above signs must check their blood glucose, as these symptoms resemble hypoglycaemia," Dr Ezzeddin said.
Simple Precautions
Many heat-related complications are preventable, according to Dr Ahmad. She recommended staying hydrated, checking blood sugar more frequently, and wearing light and breathable clothing. Patients should also carry glucose supplies and plan medication adjustments before spending extended time outdoors.
Hydration, diet, physical activity and humidity all influence how the body responds to heat, Dr Ahmad noted, which makes blood glucose monitoring especially important during the summer months.
"It is worth checking your blood sugar before you exercise in summer," she said. "And if your levels are regularly running above 250 mg/dl, it is best to get that under control first before doing anything strenuous, no matter how hot or cool it is outside."
Protecting Insulin from Heat
High temperatures can quickly undermine insulin's effectiveness, the experts cautioned, making proper storage necessary.
Heat exposure causes the insulin protein to degrade, Dr Baig said, while Dr Ezzeddin noted that leaving insulin or testing supplies in a hot car or direct sunlight can also compromise the glucose-sensing enzymes in test strips.
Both doctors advised the same core precautions: refrigerate unopened insulin at 2–8°C; keep insulin currently in use below 25–30°C (or at room temperature, as directed); and use an insulated cooling pouch while travelling. Dr Ezzeddin added that travellers should carry a copy of their prescription whenever they venture outside their usual treatment zone.
Dehydration compounds the problem even when insulin is stored correctly, Dr Ahmad said, since it can limit how efficiently the body absorbs it.
"When you are dehydrated, blood flow to the skin drops, and that means your body absorbs injected insulin less efficiently," she explained. "In other words, even if your insulin has been stored perfectly, it may not work as well if you're dehydrated."
