Every season is representation of festivals important events food culture and our own memories which are in association with it but few things that comes in complementary are diseases. If we think about Hindu months like Ashaadh, Shraavan, bhadrapada , it reminds us romanticised monsoon and cold, cough, fungal infection, etc, likewise Chaitra, vaishakh, jyeshtha brings intense heat, sweat, longer daylight hour and heat stroke. Seasonal diseases are commonly acute in nature, but what if a person is suffering from chronic one ? Like diabetes?As temperatures rise, so do the challenges for people managing their blood sugar levels. Summer heat can have a significant impact on glucose regulation, often making it harder to maintain stable levels. Whether you have diabetes or are simply mindful of your health, it’s crucial to understand how high temperatures, dehydration, and changes in activity levels affect your body’s ability to process sugar.

In this blog, we’ll explore the science behind summer’s effects on blood sugar, common risks, and practical tips to stay safe and balanced during the hotter months. Let's understand the basic role of insulin in our body, When you eat carbohydrates, they are broken down into glucose during digestion.Glucose enters the bloodstream, leading to a rise in blood sugar levels. The pancreas detects the rise in blood sugar and releases insulin into the bloodstream. Insulin binds to insulin receptors on cells, primarily in the muscles, liver, and fat tissue. Insulin acts like a key that unlocks the glucose transporter (GLUT4) in cell membranes. This allows glucose to enter cells and be used for energy or stored as glycogen in the liver and muscles. Once glucose enters the cells, blood sugar levels drop to normal. The pancreas reduces insulin secretion once glucose is at a healthy level. In case of diabetic patient, insulin is not produced properly or the body cannot use insulin effectively. This leads to high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) and complications over time. There are 2 main types of diabetis type 1 and type 2 Difference Between Type 1 (where the immune system mistakenly attacks the beta cells of the pancreas, stopping insulin production.) and Type 2 Diabetes (Develops due to insulin resistance, where the body’s cells do not respond to insulin properly, leading to high blood sugar levels.

How summer can effect your blood sugar level ? The trio of Heat, dehydration and physical activity is enough to alter your blood sugar level abruptly. Increasing the risk of hyperglycemia (increased blood sugar level) or hypoglycemia (decreased blood sugar level).

Dehydration

Most common and often overlooked impacts of summer on blood sugar is dehydration. During hot weather, the you sweats more to cool down temprature of your body, leading to a loss of fluids. This can increase the concentration of glucose (sugar) in the blood, which causes hyperglycemia.

This block is written by Dr Swapnil Wagh, administrative officers multispeciality Hospital.