"One of the main issues related to diabetes and heat is the risk of blood glucose levels rising or falling, causing hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. People with diabetes also have a higher risk of heat exhaustion,” explains Dr. Alexandra Schneider, head of the Environmental Risks Research Group at the Institute of Epidemiology at Helmholtz Munich. "This can occur when the body does not have enough fluids and salts at high temperatures, often together with physical exertion, and is thus overwhelmed with cooling. Consequently, it cannot sweat enough and tries to cool itself in other ways. For this reason, people with diabetes should increase their fluid intake in warm weather by drinking water regularly throughout the day to compensate for the loss when the body tries to cool itself by sweating," says Alexandra Schneider.
To learn more, listen to the new podcast with Dr. Alexandra Schneider, "Climate change and heat - what does it mean for our health?" - to find on all current streaming services.
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