On blood sugar and the weather – how does cold affect diabetes management?

The impact of changes in temperature on blood sugar is often overlooked, especially during cold winters. In fact, cold weather may lead to fluctuations in blood sugar levels, posing additional challenges to diabetes management. So, how does the cold affect blood sugar? What should patients do?The effect of cold weather on blood sugar1. Rising blood sugar: In cold environments, the body needs more energy to maintain normal body temperature, which leads to more liver glucose being distributed into blood. At the same time, cold irritation increases adrenaline distribution and inhibits insulin, increasing blood sugar.2. Increase the risk of low blood sugar: Increased winter activity (e.g. skiing, outdoor walking, etc.) may consume more glucose, especially for insulin injection or sugar-depressants, and is prone to low blood sugar.3. Added complications: Coldness may exacerbate diseases of the circulatory system associated with diabetes, such as arterial sclerosis or neurosis, which in turn affects the stability of blood sugar.How to manage blood sugar in cold weather?1. Strengthening blood sugar surveillance: In winter, when blood sugar is highly volatile, patients should increase the frequency of blood sugar monitoring, especially before and after outdoor activities, and adjust diets or dosages in a timely manner.2. Stay warm: wear warm clothing, especially on the limbs of hands and feet, to prevent colds from causing vascular contraction and to affect insulin absorption efficiency. Patients who use long-lasting insulin should pay special attention to the heating of the injection.3. A reasonable diet: Low-GI (leveraging sugar index) foods should be selected in winter, avoiding over-ingestion of high-heat winter foods such as hot pots, desserts, etc. More food-rich vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, etc., can be consumed, helping to stabilize blood sugar.4. Sports against low blood sugar: Before moving outdoors during winter, it should be ensured that blood sugar is within safe limits and accompanied by sugary snacks in order to cope with the outbreak of low blood sugar symptoms. Blood sugar and appropriate carbohydrates should be monitored in a timely manner after the exercise.5. Attention to the risk of infection: Winter is a high-prevalence flu season, and diabetes patients are less immune and may lead to a significant increase in blood sugar after infection. It is recommended that patients be vaccinated against influenza and that daily protection be strengthened.Concluding remarksCold weather poses additional challenges to diabetes management, but scientific responses can effectively reduce the risk of blood sugar fluctuations. The patient should adapt his/her lifestyle to his/her own circumstances, with attention to diet, exercise and monitoring, while keeping his/her body warm for a healthy winter.