Temperature And Blood Glucose
I had grand visions of my first blog post, but what I’ve decided to write about is the weather. The entire country seems to be dealing with freakishly cold or snowy or icy weather right now (except for the part of Florida where my parents are staying, which is sunny and 80s). Here in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, it is negative 25 degrees at the moment. It was so cold this morning that school was cancelled for the second (or third) time in 25 years. This cold thing got me thinking about the effect of extreme cold and heat on blood glucose levels. I did a quick search and did not find a whole lot, but there are some interesting anecdotes. One person found that they tended to have more hypoglycemia unawareness (lack of low blood glucose symptoms) during extreme cold weather. We know that hot showers and hot tubs/hot springs can cause low blood glucose. This is related to the dilation of blood vessels that occurs in very hot water. On the other hand, sitting on the beach in the hot sun can cause high blood glucose. Probably the biggest frustration with extreme temperature and diabetes, however, is the fact that the blood glucose meter itself can malfunction. If we can’t accurately measure blood glucose in extreme temperatures, we’ll never really know the effect on our blood glucose level! At any rate, I hope you are staying warm tonight. What is your experience with extreme temperatures and your blood glucose levels? Please share! Continue reading >>
Shower Drop | Dailystrength
I have always felt that way! What the hell is that? :( I feel SO light headed. :( It probably is that tbh. It used to happen to me at rock concerts, too if I hadn't eaten the same day. I am not sure if this will apply to you but hot water can cause fluctuations with blood pressure. It can make you feel dizzy too. Showering is considered a low impact exercise. You actually burn a good amount of calories showering. Your arms are moving above your head and your leg muscles are working to balance your body as you move around. I suspect that as you are doing this light exercise it is burning calories and dropping your sugar. I always have to eat before I shower otherwise my blood sugar may drop too low. My blood sugar is worse in the mornings so I would hate to have to shower in the morning and drop even lower. I shower at night now. I can't shower in the morning. I get light headed, and actually, my skin hurts like the water is like needles piercing my skin. I've learned, if I want to shower in the morning, I need to eat first, or I just shower before bed, which helps me sleep. it is true that a hot shower can cause BP to change. For a Greyhound it will cause them to pass out if its to hot. Continue reading >>
Hot Showers And Type 1
I take hot showers, the hotter the better & Im not going to stop. Ive never noticed it making me high or low, but Ive never tested to see the effect. All Ive been warned about was soaking my feet in really hot water because of neuropathy. The loss of sensation can cause burns. But, that would have to be some boiling hot water. Theres another one for the You know youre a diabetic when posting when you have checked your blood sugar while sitting in a hot tub. What we are forgetting here is another possible reason for becoming low in a hot shower or hot tub whos with you. Might make a difference. (And tell me you werent thinking the same thing) Ive never heard this but many years ago a diabetic co-worker told me that taking hot showers helped lower her blood sugar. My Type 1 11-year-old has an immediate and significant blood sugar drop from a hot shower, but he is very insulin and glucose sensitive in all environments, more so than the average PWD. Everybodys experience is different, so what might be a problem for some might not be a problem for you. Try this experiment: next time you shower, check your BG before you get in, immediately after, and 30-60 minutes later. That should tell give you a rough idea of how much impact the shower has on your BG and how long it takes to show up. Then youll have the info you need on YOUR bodys reaction, and can plan appropriately in the future. Do they think well shrink? Obviously I dont shower in boiling water, though I doubt Id shrink after all these years. Lets see, if a PWD cuts herself doing dishes does that mean we are not excused from KP? Ive heard that all housecleaning is very bad for PWD:) Im getting a doctors note to turn into my insurance demanding that I must have a housekeeper! FIRSTmany PWD have some nerve damage, wheat Continue reading >>
How To Soak In A Bathtub When You Have Diabetes
According to the American Diabetes Association, 23.6 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes--sustained elevation of sugar in the blood. Numbers increase daily as Americans become obese at an alarming rate. Diet and exercise are the most effective ways to manage diabetes, but new treatment of soaking in a hot bath is gaining recognition. "DiabetesHealth" reported in a 2008 article, that Dr. Philip Hooper of the McKee Medical Center in Loveland, Colorado, conducted research for people with type 2 diabetes, and found that blood sugar levels decreased and sleep patterns were improved by daily hot tub therapy. Not all diabetes experts agree, and further study is needed, but with proper safety tools in place, diabetics can enjoy soaking in a tub and reap significant benefits. Video of the Day Check your entire body for cuts, ulcers or sores, particularly the legs and feet. Use a full-length mirror to check the back of your body. Open wounds or breaks in the skin are pathways for bacteria to begin an infection, which is an increased danger for diabetics. Wait to enjoy your bath until all skin is intact and you are free of any infection. Eat a low-carbohydrate snack. Soaking in hot water for 15 to 20 minutes can reduce blood sugar levels and you could experience a sudden drop (hypoglycemia) that can leave you feeling weak, light-headed or confused. Make your snack a low-carb food that lasts in your system, rather than one that will only supply a fast sugar rush. Drink 8 to 10 oz. of water before you bathe. Sitting in very warm or hot water can cause you to sweat and become dehydrated quickly. Have a glass of cool water to drink within your reach as you soak. Test your blood sugar just before you enter the tub. If the reading is too high or too low, wait Continue reading >>
When Blood Sugar Is Too Low
en españolCuando la concentración de azúcar en sangre es demasiado baja Hypoglycemia (say: hi-po-gly-SEE-me-uh) is the medical word for low blood sugar level. It needs to be treated right away. Why? Because glucose , or sugar, is the body's main fuel source. That means your body — including your brain — needs glucose to work properly. When blood sugar levels go lower than they're supposed to, you can get very sick. Your parents and your diabetes health care team will tell you what your blood sugar levels should be and what to do if they get too low. Low blood sugar levels can happen to kids with diabetes because of the medicines they have to take. Kids with diabetes may need a hormone called insulin and/or diabetes pills to help their bodies use the sugar in their blood. These medicines help take the sugar out of the blood and get it into the body's cells, which makes the level of sugar in the blood go down. But sometimes it's a tricky balancing act, and blood sugar levels can get too low. Kids with diabetes need to keep their blood sugar levels from getting too high or too low. How do they do it? With help from grown-ups, they keep three things in balance: not timing the insulin doses properly with meals, snacks, and exercise taking a long bath or shower right after an insulin shot There are a bunch of symptoms that someone with low blood sugar might have. It's not the same for everybody. The symptoms are as minor as feeling hungry and as serious as having seizures or passing out. Have you ever had low blood sugar? If so, do you remember how it felt? Noticing those problems early can help you if it happens again. If you have diabetes and you have low blood sugar, you may: feel hungry or have "hunger pains" in your stomach If you think your blood sugar level c Continue reading >>
- Too much bad food, too little exercise is leading to devastating diabetes for kids | Miami Herald
- Tiny sensor placed under the skin to replace finger prick tests for diabetes: Smartphone app will alert patients if their blood sugar level drops or is too high
- What Are the Signs of Too High Blood Sugar?
Diabetes: Insulin-reaction And Low Blood Sugar
What is low blood sugar? Hypoglycemia is the term used for when you have too little sugar in your blood. Low blood sugar comes on quickly and must be treated right away by your child, family, or friends. If the low blood sugar continues too long, the brain can be harmed. Because the brain grows very rapidly in the first 4 years of life, it is particularly important to prevent severe low blood sugar in young children. Early treatment helps prevent a more severe reaction. It is very important that the family and other people taking care of your child know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia. Your child has low blood sugar if the result of a blood sugar test is less than 60 mg/dl or 3.3 mmol/L. Symptoms of low blood sugar usually occur when the blood sugar falls below 70 mg/dl (3.9 mmol/L). What causes low blood sugar? Low blood sugar occurs when the body doesn't have enough sugar to burn for energy and the level of sugar in the blood falls too low. Frequent causes include: missing a snack or meal doing extra exercise that burns more sugar than usual taking too much insulin giving a shot into a muscle resulting in rapid absorption of insulin giving the wrong amount of insulin drinking alcohol taking a bath or shower or soaking in a hot tub soon after taking a shot of insulin (blood vessels in the skin dilate from the hot water and cause insulin to be rapidly absorbed). What are the symptoms? It is important to recognize low blood sugar as early as possible so that it does not progress to a severe reaction. Symptoms of low blood sugar range from mild to severe. Mild reaction hunger at an unusual time or an upset stomach (nausea) shaky feeling sweating more than usual (often a "cold" sweat) irritable mood. Moderate reaction pale or red face weak or anxious feeling headach Continue reading >>
When Blood Sugar Is Too Low
Hypoglycemia (say: hi-po-gly-SEE-me-uh) is the medical word for low blood sugar level. It needs to be treated right away. Why? Because glucose, or sugar, is the body’s main fuel source. That means your body — including your brain — needs glucose to work properly. When blood sugar levels go lower than they’re supposed to, you can get very sick. Your parents and your diabetes health care team will tell you what your blood sugar levels should be and what to do if they get too low. The Causes of Low Blood Sugar Low blood sugar levels can happen to kids with diabetes because of the medicines they have to take. Kids with diabetes may need a hormone called insulin and/or diabetes pills to help their bodies use the sugar in their blood. These medicines help take the sugar out of the blood and get it into the body’s cells, which makes the level of sugar in the blood go down. But sometimes it’s a tricky balancing act, and blood sugar levels can get too low. Kids with diabetes need to keep their blood sugar levels from getting too high or too low. How do they do it? With help from grown-ups, they keep three things in balance: Each one of these can affect the other. For instance, eating more might mean a kid needs more insulin. And exercising might create the need for an extra snack. Again, a grown-up can help you learn how to juggle those three activities so you keep feeling good. Some things that can make low blood sugar levels more likely to happen are: skipping meals and snacks not eating enough food at a meal or snack exercising longer or harder than usual without eating something extra getting too much insulin not timing the insulin doses properly with meals, snacks, and exercise taking a long bath or shower right after an insulin shot Signs That Blood Sugar Level Continue reading >>
- Too much bad food, too little exercise is leading to devastating diabetes for kids | Miami Herald
- Tiny sensor placed under the skin to replace finger prick tests for diabetes: Smartphone app will alert patients if their blood sugar level drops or is too high
- What Are the Signs of Too High Blood Sugar?
Does Anyone Else Feel Weak After A Shower?
Does anyone else feel weak after a shower? HealingWell.com Forum > Diseases & Conditions > Fibromyalgia > Does anyone else feel weak after a shower? This really irks me, because I love showers and, obviously, have to take them! Butso often, that'swhen I get what I call my weak, shaky feeling. It's led me to get tested for low blood sugar in the past (no problem there.) My whole body feelsdrained and weak. It doesn't have to do with how long ago I ate. I don't shower, but I am Queen of the Tub. I find what happens with me is that I'll end up having a nasty hot flash as soon as I'm out of the tub, because of the heat, and then I feel weak and clammy and awful until it passes. It really makes me mad, because soaking in the tub is one of the things that makes my body feel better...so to have to go thru the massive sweating afterward just defeats the purpose...I feel all sticky and gross after the sweating. It's probably the heat of the water affecting you - it raises the blood pressure, and then you get a sudden drop I think when you get out of the water, and that's what causes the weak feeling. Make sure you have a grab bar, or something similar in your shower if at all possible...you want something sturdy to grab if you feel dizzy DX: Fibro, Severe Myofascial Pain, Chronic Pelvic Pain, Surgical Adhesions, IBS, IC-PBS, Carpal Tunnel (both wrists), FAI, Reynauds, Opthalmic Migraines, Drug Related Hot Flashes, Physically Unable to Vomit due to Nissen Surgery, Extremely tiny and scarred veins (hard start for IV's) Meds: Oxycontin, Tramacet, Cymbalta, Cesamet, Flexeril, Clonidine plus Vitamin D + Multi daily I haven't been able to wear make up for a really long time because after a comfortable, not hot shower, I pour sweat for at least an hour, even with a fan on me. I've bee Continue reading >>
Low Blood Pressure Leads To Fainting?
I have always had low blood pressure, which by all accounts is good. However, in the past year and a half, I have "fainted" three times when I was sick and I was told my low blood pressure might be the cause (I don't lose consciousness, but my body suddenly can't hold itself up and I fall with no control). The first two times, it was when I took a hot shower while sick and didn't leave a window open, the third time was when I had a bad bout of diarrhea w/fever and hadn't eaten in about 10 hours. The last spell was really bad, since I ended up crashing into the wall hard enough to leave bruises and hitting my head on a door before I fell. The fact that this "fainting" is a recent development worries me. Can low blood pressure be the cause? Should I be concerned, and what can I do to prevent it? — This Flower is Wilting Dear This Flower is Wilting, The analogy in your signature, in addition to being sweet and endearing, is pretty accurate. A flower wilts when it doesn't get enough water and other nutrients, or when it's been left in excessive heat for too long. Your wilt could be caused by the same conditions. Since your fainting occurs in very specific circumstances, a combination of these factors may work together to exacerbate your low blood pressure. In the hot shower your fainting could have been caused by a combination of heat, poor airflow, and being sick. Heat dilates veins and lets blood pool in the lower limbs, restricting its flow to the brain. When the brain is deprived of blood, and therefore oxygen, fainting can occur. Lack of proper ventilation is a well-known and common trigger for fainting, because of the lack of oxygen to the brain. Finally, because you were sick during these times you may have been dehydrated as well, which would exaggerate possible e Continue reading >>
What A Low Blood Sugar Feels Like.
Across the board, a low blood sugar seems to be considered as anything under 70 mg/dL. Revisiting the American Diabetes Association’s website this morning offers up a list of symptoms of low blood sugar, like: Shakiness Nervousness or anxiety Sweating, chills and clamminess Irritability or impatience Confusion, including delirium Rapid/fast heartbeat Lightheadedness or dizziness Hunger and nausea Sleepiness Blurred/impaired vision Tingling or numbness in the lips or tongue Headaches Weakness or fatigue Anger, stubbornness, or sadness Lack of coordination Nightmares or crying out during sleep Seizures Unconsciousness (As with most diabetes-related lists on the Internet, the further down the list you read, the worse shit seems to get.) The “what happens if a low blood sugar goes untreated” answer is short, and to the point: “If left untreated, hypoglycemia may lead to a seizure or unconsciousness (passing out, a coma). In this case, someone else must take over.” When my daughter hears my Dexcom beeping, she understands the difference between the alert signaling a high blood sugar and the alert signaling a low. If the high alarm goes off, she doesn’t react, but if the low alarm goes off, she perks up immediately and asks me if I need a “glupose tab.” The immediacy and seriousness of low blood sugars is noticed by my three year old because she’s seen me go from normal, functional Mom to confused, sweaty, and tangled-in-my-own-words Mom in a matter of minutes. The symptoms of low blood sugars don’t just vary from PWD to PWD, but often vary within the PWD’s own lifetime. When I was very small, my low blood sugar “tell” was when my mouth would go numb and my face felt like I’d had Novocaine hours earlier and it was just starting to wear off, with th Continue reading >>
Hot Bath Beats Cycling For Lowering Blood Sugar Levels For Type 2 Diabetics
Hot bath beats cycling for lowering blood sugar levels for type 2 diabetics A hot bath can lower peak blood sugarCredit:Alamy A hotbath could be better than cycling at lowering blood sugar levels for type 2 diabetics , a study suggests. Dr Steve Faulkner of Loughborough Universityinvestigated whether there were any alternatives to exercise which could assist people in maintaining the condition. He found that a soak in the tub reduces peak blood sugar levels by 10 per cent more than an hour cycling, and increases energy expenditure levels by 80 per cent burning 126 calories per hour. Dr Faulkner, who is a Post-Doctoral Research Associate for the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leicester-Loughborough Diet, Lifestyle and Physical Activity Biomedical Research Unit (BRU), said: We discovered the participants who bathed had, on average, 10 per cent lower peak glucose levels in comparison to the exercise, which was completely unexpected. The amount our blood sugar rises after a meal is one of the risk markers for things like developing type 2 diabetes, so keeping it down can be good for our health. We think the reason is that thebathmay encourage the release of heat shock proteins, which may help lower blood sugar levels by improving insulin controlled glucose uptake. However, although these findings are interesting, we would always encourage increased physical activity and exercise as the best way to maintain good health. A hot bath even beats cycling for lowering peak levelsCredit:AFP/Getty Images The experiment involved 10 unfit males, who all bathed in a (104F) 40C, while wearing a continuous glucose monitor to record changes in their blood sugar during the subsequent 24 hours. The same participants also cycled on a separate day at an intensity that increase Continue reading >>
8 Things That Affect Your Blood Glucose Levels
There are so very many things that affect your blood glucose levels that it’s hard to know where to begin. Everything from the type and amount of food you eat, to how hot it is that day are known to have an effect. The eight items below are amongst the top things that affect your diabetes: Caffeine - depending on how much coffee, and other caffeine rich beverages you drink in a day, can have an effect on your metabolism, causing fluctuations in your readings. A higher metabolism will cause you to burn more calories, thereby affecting the insulin dosage needed to control your diabetes. Drinking 5 or more caffeine rich products, (coffee, diet soda, cocoa [also sugar rich]) can increase your blood sugar. Caffeine affects two hormones, glucogon and adrenaline, which in turn release sugars stored in the liver. Heat - A hot day, or even a shower or bath that is too hot will affect your sugars. Heat can cause your sugar levels to fluctuate. According to the Mayo Clinic, diabetics often have damage of the sweat glands affecting the body’s ability to cool down. Dehydration can be a result of a hot day, as well as a result of high blood glucose levels. High levels cause the body to excrete more urine, causing dehydration if one does not increase their intake of caffeine free fluids like water, seltzer, and sugar-free drinks. Heat can cause dehydration as well and could result in the more serious affects of heat exhaustion. Remember, try to keep out of the direct sunlight on a hot day, drink lots of fluids, exercise in the cool of the morning or late evening. You may find, like me, that you just cannot take the heat like you did before the diabetes. Exercise - exercise must be carefully done and balanced, with readings taken before and after to make sure that your levels are n Continue reading >>
Blood Sugar After Shower
Diabetes Forum The Global Diabetes Community Find support, ask questions and share your experiences. Join the community hi my sugar was 7.6 before meal and injected right and 2hours after meal i went into shower i had quite a hot shower after i finished shower i checked my sugar level it was 12.7 has anyone else experience high after taking shower?. Had you tested before getting in the shower? hi my sugar was 7.6 before meal and injected right and 2hours after meal i went into shower i had quite a hot shower after i finished shower i checked my sugar level it was 12.7 has anyone else experience high after taking shower?. Absolutely. I inject, wait 10 min and eat. Then one hour after injecting I inject again for the waking phenomenon. Within two hours af eating I shower and around noon inject again. It stops the rise. I've tested enough to know if I'm 80 a 1/2 unit or 1 unit only stops the rise and never lowers me. 2-2.5 hours after the second one I need more again. I will always keep rising until 1:00 if I don't do this. However I tested tested tested to figure out when the rise starts. It's 45 min after my first injection, and two hours after the second. It's my version of the pump hahha. hi my sugar was 7.6 before meal and injected right and 2hours after meal i went into shower i had quite a hot shower after i finished shower i checked my sugar level it was 12.7 has anyone else experience high after taking shower?. A hot shower will raise my BGs by approx 1.5 units. I have tested immediately before and after a number of times and it's always the same. However, we are all different and as azure states; her levels drop with a shower rather than rise. Unless you test immediately before and after with no food or bolus taken, I wouldn't draw a conclusion from it in your c Continue reading >>
"blood Sugar After Hot Shower": Diabetes Community - Support Group
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Change In Temperature Can Affect Blood Sugar Levels
Back to Living Better Many diabetics are aware stress and illness can cause blood sugar fluctuations, but did you know changes in temperatures can affect blood sugar levels and lead to false readings? Sabrina Rene, M.D., an endocrinologist at Piedmont, explains how temperature can produce blood sugar highs and lows, and how they can affect diabetes testing supplies. Effects of warm weather on diabetics During warmer months, it is especially important for diabetics to stay properly hydrated. Dehydration can cause blood sugar to rise as the glucose in your blood becomes more concentrated. High temperatures can also cause blood vessels to dilate, which can enhance insulin absorption, potentially leading to low blood sugar. It is best for diabetics to stay indoors during the hottest part of the day and monitor blood sugar closely for changes when temperatures start to rise. Ideal storage temperature for diabetic testing supplies Extreme heat and cold can affect insulin, test strips and glucose monitors. Never leave these supplies in a car, no matter what time of year. The meter should also be stored and used in a room that remains between 50 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Dr. Rene says it is important to store test strips in a dry, cool place. “You never want to store test strips in your bathroom. The warm, humid atmosphere can damage the strips, causing them to produce false readings,” she says. Vascular problems and temperature changes Patients with vascular problems often do not have proper blood flow, especially to their extremities, and cold weather may exacerbate slow blood flow. Diabetes test strips need a certain level of oxygen and blood flow to accurately calculate the glucose level. The lower these are, the less accurate the reading, says Dr. Rene. Raynaud’s p Continue reading >>
