The summer heat can cause a lot of challenges for a person living with T1D. Here are some tips and tricks for easily managing your diabetes supplies while still enjoying the beautiful Georgia weather from JDRF Georgia’s summer intern Anna!

1. Don’t let your supplies get too hot! If you’re going to be out in the sun for an extended period of time, and are bringing insulin, or even just your blood glucose monitor, keep them in a cooler or a lunch box with an ice pack. Getting too hot can harm the insulin and cause your monitor to overheat.

2. If you’re on a pump, always bring extra supplies. Sweating can cause the adhesive on pump sites to come off easier, especially when combined with water. There are also many products like Mastisol, IV Prep, etc. that can help your pump site stick better during the summer season.

3. Check your sugars frequently! Heat can cause a lot of fluctuation in blood sugars, so be sure to stay hydrated and know where your blood sugar is at. Always have snacks and water on hand.

4. If traveling, bring plenty of supplies, and your prescriptions. In the event that the heat gets to your supplies, or you accidentally run out, it is always better to be prepared to make it easier to get new supplies at a local pharmacy.

5. Try and wear shoes on hot surfaces. Taking care of your feet is so important and hot pavement or sand can cause burns and cuts!

6. Wear sunscreen! Bad sunburn can cause blood sugars to elevate, so protect your skin and your sugars.

These are just a few tips to make surviving the summer heat and managing your diabetes a little easier.

As always, the JDRF Georgia Website has resources for your reference. If there is a topic that you would like to hear more about, please post a comment below or email us at georgia@jdrf.org.