Extreme heat makes it harder to manage diabetes – yet millions of people with the disease can’t afford to run air conditioning during dangerous heat waves. A federal proposal to increase cooling assistance has been introduced in the U.S. Congress, but it hasn’t moved out of committee, leaving states scrambling to keep their residents safe as summer weather arrives.
How heat waves affect people with diabetes
Hot weather can be uncomfortable for anyone, but it poses special risks for people managing diabetes.
Dehydration concentrates blood sugar, while heat stress makes insulin less effective. At the same time, high temperatures can also increase the risk of low blood sugar when people eat less, absorb insulin more quickly, or alter their daily routines.
Together, these changes can destabilize glucose control and increase the risk of serious complications that can land people in the emergency room.
