Diabetes and Dehydration – The Connection

If you live in an area where the temperatures soar up to the 90s during the summers, then this might just be the write up for you. What can make things worse is the fact that most of these places will also be high on the humidity quotient; and this will make you sweat a lot more than you usually do.

Summer may not be the optimal time for people, especially diabetics, to indulge in any kind of outdoor sports; but then again, you can’t just sit put until winter comes along. You need to get out and get moving. The best way to do this would be to change your schedule around a little bit. Exercise early in the morning, when the sun isn’t overhead and try to stick indoors when the sun is at its peak.

The most important fact here is that – no matter what form of exercise you indulge in, make sure you’re carrying ample amount of water or some form of liquid with you; since, dehydration is extremely common during the summers.

What do you mean by dehydration?

Dehydration is known to occur when a person loses more fluids than he/she is capable of taking in. The body will then not have enough fluids left for it to function normally. Serious consequences await those who do not replenish the fluids at the earliest point in time.

When does dehydration occur?

Dehydration could occur at any point in time, where the body ends up losing more water than it can take in. Extreme sweating, for one, may cause dehydration. The most obvious sign of dehydration is thirst; and when the dehydration increases, it may lead to a dry mouth. There may be a loss of electrolytes that is caused due to excessive sweating. This may cause for a dip in the level of blood pressure as well.

Diabetes as a cause for Dehydration –

Diabetics are at an increased risk of dehydration, given the fact that one of the drawbacks of diabetes is an increased urge in urinating. Diabetes ends up increasing the levels of the body’s excretion of urine, especially when the levels of glucose are elevated.

On the other hand, exercise is an important part of a diabetic’s life; so that he/she can maintain a healthy lifestyle overall. Hence, most diabetics will want to continue with their exercise regimes, regardless of the climatic conditions.

Preventing Dehydration –

Stay well-hydrated at all times. This is the easiest method of preventing a recurrence in dehydration. This will also help in preventing any kind of fluctuations that may be seen in the levels of blood glucose. It will also keep at bay, the chances of a heat stroke or heat exhaustion related problems.

Flavored drinks with electrolytes have been designed to keep people replenished with their quota of electrolytes; but these might not be the most ideal choice for diabetics, given the levels of sugar in such drinks. The better option would be to consume a salt tablet which can also help you refurbish the levels of sodium in your body.