Summer does not have to be a problem for people with diabetes.Although it might seem the most conducive time to forget about good habits, the truth is that it is a time more than appropriate to learn to establish healthy habits, since meals are lighter and healthier with fruits, vegetables, salads, gazpachos, andThe time is usually used to walk and visit the beaches and exercise.
The specialist in Endocrinology and Nutrition of Quirónsalud Sacred Heart, Dr. Alberto Aliaga, says that summer is the ideal time to take care of diabetes."Summer is a fantastic period for rest, fun and share pleasant moments with family and friends, but this should not be at odds with maintaining healthy lifestyle habits," he says.
Normally, he says, "we have greater freedom of schedules to practice, organize our menus and incorporate a wide variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables that help us improve our health."
Remember that when the patient with diabetes abandons the recommended medication and lifestyle habits to overthrow the disease for some time, which is known as 'therapeutic vacations', the cardinal symptoms of the pathology generally reappear.
tips to control diabetes
Infosalus.com collects 5 practical tips that can help you spend a pleasant vacation without spending the disease:
- Due to high temperatures, we must pay special attention to hydration.We recommend water consumption, infusions and sweetened drinks (light, zero, etc.) that do not provide sugars or calories.You have to be careful with drinks rich in sugars and/or alcohol (juices, sugary soft drinks, milkshakes, horchatas, hailstones, beers, etc).
"If we do not have it, the weight and diabetes will resent. With age we partially lose the feeling of thirst, so we must remember our elders to drink frequently to avoid dehydrating," says the expert.
- Routine loss leads to irregular schedules, pecks and frequent meals outside the home, where the consumption of calorie -rich foods (ice cream, alcohol, fried snacks', etc.) clouds the effort of the whole year."It is advisable, then, its consumption occasionally," he recalls.
- When practicing exercise, you have to avoid time slots with higher temperatures to get rid of the dreaded heat blow and, of course, properly protect our skin with photoprotective creams, as well as our vision with approved sunglasses if necessary.
"We recommend any activity that entertains us and stimulates us to practice it regularly," says the doctor.
- In patients in insulin treatment it is advisable not to expose it to the sun and high temperatures, for which there are small portable refrigerators.
"A practical advice for those who travel by plane abroad: it is very useful to carry with them a report by your doctor so as not to have problems in security controls," they add.
- The feet are especially sensitive in summer, since they sweat more and are more exposed to any wound.Especially in patients with sensitive neuropathy, so it is advisable to keep them dry, inspected daily and not walk barefoot, using appropriate footwear and socks.
tips for traveling abroad
On the other hand, the Spanish Diabetes Federation (FEDE) recalled that when traveling abroad with insulin, it should be taken into account that it is best to take all the material that is needed from the place of origin, doubling or triplingthe amount, and distributing the insulin and the necessary medical devicesAmong the different suitcases that are taken by travel, in case any of them is lost.
Regarding the conservation of insulin, it is important to avoid its exposure to light and extreme temperatures, below zero degrees or greater than 30 degrees.In some cases, the use of a fridge or isothermal bag may be required, although before use it is important to observe it carefully, in case it had suffered some rate of change.
In the case of traveling by plane with insulin, it must be kept in mind that the medications, including those that are liquids, such as insulin, are exempt from the rules for them and will be allowed to take them in hand luggage for use during the trip.
Source: Infosalus
