SUMMER SLIPS

Watch out for these common warm-weather oversights, say the experts:

TOO MUCH WATERMELON

“I warn patients about watermelon all the time,” says Professor O’Malley. “While it’s healthy, it also contains a lot of sugar, so you have to eat it in moderation.” The standard serving – 1 small (2cm thick) slice or 1 cup of diced melon – has 12 grams of carbs.

THE VACATION TRAP

“One patient who went to Disney World was blown away by how much higher his [BGLs] were, because it can be harder to count carbs while away,” says Professor O’Malley. There are so many hidden carbs, she says – especially at all-inclusive resorts – so be extra-careful about monitoring your levels.

COOKED INSULIN

“I had one patient who was sailing and kept her insulin in a backpack on the deck in the sun,” says Soper. “Her blood [glucose] was running high and she couldn’t figure out why. The next day, she opened a new bottle of insulin and her blood [glucose] went back to baseline.” The lesson: if you and your meds have been out in the sun all day and your numbers are up, consider opening up a new bottle of insulin or changing your infusion set reservoir if you’re on an insulin pump.