| Diabetes and summer: Safety tips Jul 21st 2012, 21:08  - With Mayo Clinic diabetes educators
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N. read biography
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Living with diabetes blog -
July 21, 2012 Diabetes and summer: Safety tips By Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
It's the "dog days" here in Minnesota — the hottest, most sultry days of summer. In the northern hemisphere that's usually July and August. Such heat and humidity affects people with chronic conditions more than it does others. If you have diabetes, here are some general tips to keep you safe when the weather is at its hottest. - Prevent dehydration. Both hot weather and high blood sugar can cause dehydration. So, if you have diabetes, it's doubly important to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. Water is best. Avoid sugary beverages and sports drinks.
- Avoid alcohol. Alcohol can affect your body's ability to regulate body temperature.
- Strategically plan exercise and outdoor activities. Exercise and do outdoor yard work and other activities during the cooler hours of the day. My husband and I take our walks late in the evening and choose a path that's sheltered by trees. Unfortunately, in Minnesota, the mosquitos like the cool time of day, too! Alternatively, consider walking in a shopping mall or department store.
- Dress appropriately. When humidity is high, your sweat can't evaporate as well. If the heat index reaches 91 F (33 C) or higher, wear clothing that allows sweat to evaporate easily.
- Test your blood sugar occasionally. When outside in the heat, it doesn't hurt to occasionally test your blood sugar. As some of you have mentioned, low and high blood sugar can be a problem during hot weather.
Recognize and treat heat exhaustion to avoid heat stroke Heat exhaustion symptoms
If you have diabetes, you're at greater risk of heat exhaustion, which occurs when you're exposed to high temperatures for a long period of time and don't replace the fluids you lose. Your body produces more heat than it can release. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include: - Cool, moist skin with goose bumps when in the heat
- Heavy sweating
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Weak, rapid pulse
- Low blood pressure upon standing
- Muscle cramps
- Nausea
- Headache
If you experience any of these symptoms on a hot, especially humid day, it's important that you take steps to avoid heat stroke. Avoid heat stroke
Follow these tips to cool down if you experience any symptoms of heat exhaustion. - Find a cool, shady spot to rest. An air-conditioned building is even better. Rest on your back with your legs elevated.
- Drink plenty of cool fluids. Avoid alcohol, which can worsen dehydration.
- Take a cool shower or bath. If not possible, you can also wipe down with a cool cloth.
- Adjust clothing. Loosen your clothing, and remove any unnecessary clothing.
If you don't feel better within 1 hour after taking these measures, seek prompt medical attention. Have a safe and fun summer! Peggy blog index  | | Prostate cancer screening — a new model for the future? Jul 21st 2012, 18:44 Free E-newsletter Subscribe to Housecall Our weekly general interest
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Living with cancer blog -
July 21, 2012 Prostate cancer screening — a new model for the future? By Sheryl M. Ness, R.N.
I've been tracking the latest news and opinions on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing used to screen for prostate cancer. I'm sure many of you are curious about the new recommendations that have been announced. In June 2012, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended against routine PSA testing to screen for prostate cancer. The recommendation doesn't apply to men diagnosed with prostate cancer and under observation for progression or recurrence. This topic remains controversial, but is based on the fact that PSA testing hasn't been proven to decrease deaths from prostate cancer. The main concerns noted are false-positives, overdiagnosis and overtreatment. The PSA test isn't perfect, and can be elevated for other medical reasons. Researchers have also found that many low-risk (less aggressive, slow growing) prostate cancers can be simply observed for a period without needing aggressive treatment from the start. All of this means that it's important to take the time to decide if you want to be screened or not depending on your personal history and choice. The scientific community agrees that a new way to screen and test for prostate cancer is needed. Meantime, talk with your doctor about what's best for you. Mayo Clinic urologists recommend a personalized approach as men consider the benefits and risks of PSA screening. Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer in men. Therefore, it's still important to consider screening for those at high risk of developing cancer. Mayo Clinic specialists recommend a discussion about PSA screening starting at age 40: - If your personal or medical history places you at higher risk (strong family history of prostate cancer)
- If your ethnicity puts you at risk (African ethnicity has the highest risk)
- If you have a life expectancy of at least 10-15 years (the benefits of screening decrease with age)
What's your opinion on this topic? Follow me on Twitter at @SherylNess1. Join the discussion at #livingwithcancer. blog index | |
