Diabetes care during monsoon is essential but not a troublesome task if you keep some tips and tricks in mind. Monsoon season brings relaxation from the scorching heat of the summers and makes everything around greener. However, along with some blessings come unwanted health issues and difficulties. The season is full of health issues like viral fever, common cold, and so on.
There are several infectious diseases that one needs to stay protected from in the Monsoons. While such diseases can affect anyone and everyone, patients with diabetes must be extra cautious in this season of rains and uncertainties. A few extra precautions and care is all that is needed to be safe. People with diabetes get easily affected as their immunity is not as strong as others due to fluctuating blood sugar levels. Following is a detailed guide on Diabetes and Monsoon that would help you deal with the condition much better. Let us take a closer look at the details.
Blood Sugar Control During Monsoon
Keep Yourself Dry
Monsoon times are when you can quickly get drenched in the rain. In case you get wet in the rain, get home and dry yourself at the earliest. Use a cotton towel to wipe your body after a warm water shower. For drying your hair, you can use a hairdryer. The major areas of the body where microbes can thrive are beneath the nails. Clean them thoroughly using soap when having a bath.
Take Care of your Feet
Make sure to take care of your feet during the Monsoon season. Keep the nails trimmed and the skin hygienic at all times. If you get wet, take off your shoes and socks as soon as your reach indoors and dry your feet using a soft cotton cloth. Do not keep wet socks on for a long duration, and keep extra clothing handy to wipe off your feet if required. Keep your footwear dry and clean each time you use them and check them for foreign objects before use. Ideally, it would be best if you used waterproof and close open-toe footwear in the monsoons.
Walking barefoot can increase infection risks in people with diabetes. Not taking enough care of your feet can lead to diabetic neuropathy, proving to be a severe health issue if not taken care of at the right time.
Take Care of your Skin
Take care of your skin and keep it protected from the harmful ultraviolet rays even during the monsoon months. Clean your skin every day such that it stays protected from infections. Deep cleansing of impurities, microbes, and dirt is essential for keeping microbes at bay. Do not over moisturise your toes as if the excess is left in between toes, and it can cause fungal growth.
Take Special Care for the Elderly Diabetics
People with diabetes must be extra cautious during the Monsoons, and if you are elderly, the precautions must be at their peak. Monsoons lead to slippery floors, and wet grounds, which lead to monsoon falls primarily in the senior citizens. Therefore, elders must be extra cautious while stepping out of the home. Never be in a rush and choose your footwear appropriately. Do not wear something slippery.
One of the common side effects of anti-diabetic medication is hypoglycemia. Some medicines also trigger low blood pressure problems in senior citizens. The caretakers of the older people must keep a check on blood pressure, blood glucose levels, etc., to keep unwanted health issues at bay.
Exercise Regularly
The weather during the monsoons is very soothing, which encourages relaxation. One tends to get lazy and desires to stay in bed all day staring out of the window. In addition, the rainy days often make it challenging to step out of the home to jog, walk, or head to the gym or yoga class. However, exercising is an essential part of your daily life, especially if you have diabetes. It helps keep you healthy and fit. Therefore, you must not miss your daily workout sessions. Make arrangements to at least work out for a minimum of 30 minutes to keep your blood glucose level under control. The absence of exercise can send your blood glucose level for a toss.
Other Major Tips to Keep in Mind for Managing Diabetes During Monsoon
Infection Control
- Monsoons bring along ample infections like respiratory infections, including allergies and asthma. You must consult your physician to know more about respiratory infections and their precautions. People with diabetes who face allergies or have a history of asthma should take special care of themselves. Take proper and timely medications, inhalers, sprays, etc.
- Monsoons are the time when people are exposed to multiple microorganisms that cause bacterial and fungal infections. People also fall prey to extremities and injuries that might further complicate their health issues. Foot injuries and infections are also common health problems that people suffer from during the rainy season. Therefore, people with diabetes must be extra cautious and take special care of themselves during h the monsoon season.
- Foot infections are again a commonly caused ailment during the monsoon season. A foot infection can lead to an ulcer and even trigger amputation in critical cases. Wound care is critical during the monsoons as the moisture-filled atmosphere can cause infections to wounds and further worsen them. People with diabetes face extended issues with wounds as their wounds take a longer time to heal than those with no diabetic conditions. A skin cut or corn wound might look tiny from the outside, but if it gets infected, it can lead to severe complications, especially in people with diabetes. People with diabetes who suffer from neuropathy have trouble feeling pain in their extreme conditions as well; therefore, their injuries remain unnoticed for a long time. The infection, in such a case, can easily spread beneath the skin. It can cause an abscess that can result in complete and partial or total limb amputation if not treated well within time.
Fluids and Hydration
Water-borne diseases and dehydration
Monsoons and water-borne diseases come hand-in-hand. Some commonly caused water-borne diseases include ailments like nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. These health issues also lead to loss of fluids and appetite from the body. Low caloric intake and dehydration are the causes of water-borne diseases and can make you feel weak.
In such a situation, if a person with diabetes is on medication, they can suffer from hypoglycemia. Dehydration should be taken care of if such is the case. Intake of plenty of calorie-free fluids can be of great help. Also, even if one cannot eat like regular days, diabetes medication still must be consumed just how the regular prescription suggests.
Diabetes care during the monsoon includes staying hydrated throughout the season and beyond. Even if you do not indulge in any strenuous activity, make sure to drink plenty of water. Do not drink packaged juices or aerated drinks as they are packed with added sugar which does not help your health. However, you can drink homemade juices in moderate quantities. In addition, you can also consume healthy liquids like coconut water.
Extra Attention to Personal Hygiene
Monsoons bring along various microbes like viruses and bacteria. Personal hygiene is paramount during this season to keep microbes-caused infections at bay. Regularly clean yourself and maintain good hygiene throughout the day. Make sure to keep sanitizing your hands at regular intervals. Take warm water showers twice a day. Make sure to take a bath when you return home on a rainy day. In addition, keep your nails trimmed as they are a familiar spot for germs and microbes.
Keep a Check on Blood Sugar Levels Regularly
People with fluctuating levels of blood glucose levels are way more vulnerable to germs and infections. An essential part is maintaining a stable blood sugar level and keeping a record of the daily readings. A spike, drop, or fluctuation can indicate an illness, and you can immediately consult your physician. Therefore, if you stick to a healthy lifestyle and monitor your blood glucose levels regularly, managing diabetes care during monsoon can be a piece of cake.
Store Medications Properly
Monsoon months comprise heavy rains and downpours. Rains often make it challenging to step out of home, be it even for a short while to the closely situated pharmacy store. In such a scenario, you do not want an emergency requirement of medication for which you need to step out on a rainy day. There might also be water logging further adding to your problems. Hence, always make sure to keep your medication well stocked in advance.
Keep an Eye on Your Food and Beverages Intake
Make Health Food Choices
Monsoon is a season when you are bound to temptation hot steamy junk edibles and beverages. It is no less than a tradition to indulge in hot fried pakodas and tea during a typical rainy day. No matter what the weather is like or how much water pours, it would be best if you did not indulge in your temptations of consuming fried, oily food like pakodas, bhajias, tea, coffee, etc. Instead, you can switch to having steamy hot soup and enjoy the rain. Try preparing your food using delicious food recipes. This would not just give you an alternative but also be flavorful to your taste buds.
Along with fried and oily food, you must also avoid eating non-vegetarian dishes as they are heavy on the stomach and difficult to digest. Constant consumption of oily foodstuff can result in spiked blood glucose levels. You can easily prevent an uncontrolled blood sugar level by consuming a balanced diet. During the rainy season, you can incorporate into eating a lot of fruits and green leafy vegetables.
Wash your Vegetables and Fruits thoroughly
Monsoon is a season when you require cleaning your fruits and vegetables more thoroughly than any other season. Monsoons make your food more susceptible to microorganism presence. Ensure to wash them thoroughly before use. You can wash them using warm lemon water or vinegar mixed with water. Both these lemon/vinegar mixed waters help kill bacteria that might be present in them.
Avoid eating outside Food
Monsoons are a time when microorganisms, flies, insects are all over the place. Waterlogged areas are thriving grounds for insects and flies that further affect the food prepared and served on the streets. When you avoid eating street food, you avoid the risk of getting infections or other diseases against unhygienic or undercooked food. Make it a point to prepare your food at home and eat it fresh. Home-cooked meals are not just healthy but also nutritious and cooked with ample precautions.
Consume Immunity-Boosting Food
When it comes to planning your means and diet, pack your day with drinks and food items rich in immunity boosters. Loads of vitamins and rich minerals help you stay stronger and healthier no matter what the season is. A good immunity would help you not just through one season but through them all. Also, strong immunity is built over a long period and not a couple of months. Therefore, make immunity a priority and always eat nutritious food.
Avoid eating Raw Food
Microbes can be all over raw food and can harm you if you consume them unwashed or uncooked. It is best to first thoroughly clean and later cook your food during the monsoons before consumption. You can opt to steam your food as well if you like to avoid oil and intense flavors.
Consult a Doctor in Case of Emergency
Although diabetes and monsoon side effects can be maintained and taken care of at home, you might face some issues where only an expert physician can help. Keep a regular record of your blood glucose levels such that you can show them to your doctor if and when required.
Monsoons bring along various risks of getting sick for everyone. The risks are slightly increased for people with diabetes as they have weak immune systems. They can easily cause infections or other ailments which might affect blood sugar levels to either spike or drop. In any situation of emergency, make sure to consult your physician at the earliest. Any disease might start small but can mount up to a level where it can get out of your hands. An early consultation, especially for people with diabetes, must be a habit.
[Also Read: Does Intake of Insulin Increases OR Decreases Your Body Weight? ]Key Takeaways
Enjoying the rainy season is no difficult task if you follow some simple tricks and tips and maintain personal hygiene. However, you must keep a regular check of your blood glucose levels and maintain a detailed record. Use a quality glucometer for checking the readings and make a record for the time you consult with your physician. Along with this, do research the basics that you can follow to keep safe and healthy throughout the Monsoons.
