Fun in the sun Top tips to stay diabetes-safe this summer

YOUR GUIDE TO SUMMER SAFETY It’s the season of barbecues, picnics, holidays and pool parties. Don’t miss a beat (or the beach!) with these healthy strategies

Summer can be kind to diabetes management. “You’re eating lighter, fruits and vegetables are fresher, and you’re naturally more active, so blood [glucose] tends to improve,” says Tiffany Soper, a certified diabetes educator. But here’s the rub: the heat may affect people with diabetes more than those who don’t have it. Diabetes complications such as nerve damage can impair sweat glands’ ability to sweat and keep you cool, high BGLs and certain medications can make dehydration more likely, and the heat may affect insulin needs. But that doesn’t have to stop you having a summer filled with activities you enjoy.