Diabetes Is a Crisis — and Extreme Heat Heightens Risks

From wordinblack.com

By Theresa Renart

New York City is sizzling and the extreme heat presents a significant threat for New Yorkers living with diabetes that we don’t talk about nearly often enough.

Dehydration spikes blood glucose levels and can reduce kidney function. Diabetes damages nerves in the sweat glands, and overall, is a condition harder to manage in the heat.

Combatting the mounting diabetes crisis in New York City amid this era of rising temperatures requires more public awareness, proactive policy changes, and investments in public health.

Dehydration spikes blood glucose levels and can reduce kidney function. Credit: RDNE Stock Project/Pexels

As a nurse specializing in diabetes education, I’m on the frontlines and see how this disease alters lives — often in ways that could have been prevented with earlier intervention. Black New Yorkers are particularly vulnerable and more likely to succumb to the disease than their white counterparts. 

More than a million New Yorkers live with diabetes, and 1 in 6 has blood sugar levels high enough that their diabetes is considered “uncontrolled,” resulting in increased risk of kidney failure or stroke. New Yorkers living in neighbourhoods suffering from the urban heat island effect, where a lack of tree cover and air-conditioning can make it feel significantly hotter, are particularly vulnerable.

Due to longstanding inequities, many of these neighbourhoods also suffer from higher rates of diabetes — including in the Bronx, where as many as 1 adult in 5 has been diagnosed with the condition.

We want at-risk New Yorkers to get tested. At the same time, the city and state must commit to expanding access to resources, medical technologies, and education that can help people manage and control this condition.

Having treated 20 patients on average per week over the past 25 years, I’ve seen the trends shaping this crisis and how New Yorkers are suffering severe complications at younger ages.

In one upsetting case, I worked with a 20-year-old patient who lost his vision, had a limb amputated, and is now on dialysis. Sadly, the rate of toe and lower-limb amputations has increased about 75% between 2009 and 2017, and researchers expect both type 1 and type 2 diabetes to increase in young people over the next 40 years.

Many of my patients struggle to follow their medication regimens or make necessary lifestyle changes — not because they do not care about their health, but because they have never received the proper education, including guidance about how to take insulin, store their medication, and test their blood sugar. 

Through my work, I’ve found that we need to meet people where they are to motivate them to make the proper lifestyle changes, whether that’s swapping out white rice with brown or just making a brisk walk a part of their everyday routine.

However, these efforts must be augmented by strong institutional support, including ongoing public investments in initiatives and programming designed to promote healthy lifestyle changes. We must improve and expand access to nutritional foods and boost educational and counselling programming, particularly in high-risk neighbourhoods where many residents lack access to proper medical care and healthy foods — gaps that may become more pronounced with cutbacks to federal funding.

We must also invest in policies and programs that promote physical activity and social connection in communities

These and other initiatives were outlined in a plan released by the city earlier this year focusing on tackling health inequities and reducing deaths from chronic illnesses like diabetes. It’s a great start. Now, we collectively — policymakers; lawmakers; non-profit, clergy, and community leaders; and healthcare organizations like ours — must work to ensure it doesn’t just sit on a shelf collecting dust. 

City agencies must continue to engage with community groups and partners as they work to implement these proposals. At a broader level, we must continue to expand access to diabetes management technology, including devices like continuous glucose monitors that allow people to check their blood sugar in real time without pricking their fingers, that provide New Yorkers, regardless of income, with the best available tools to manage their condition.

Diabetes is a mounting crisis — but it doesn’t have to be. Let’s work to make it the beginning of the end when it comes to reversing these disturbing trends.

Theresa Renart serves as a clinical education diabetic nurse specialist at ElderServe Health. She lives in Queens.

https://wordinblack.com/2025/08/diabetes-is-a-crisis-and-extreme-heat-heightens-risks/ 

How Texas heat and humidity pose heat-related risks for people with diabetes

From communityimpact.com

High temperatures can pose higher health risks for people with diabetes, experts have found. With Texas heat and humidity, people with diabetes can struggle to cool down, facing a greater chance of experiencing heat-related illnesses.

The science

For a person without medical problems, the body adapts to heat in two ways, said Dr. Natalie Williams, family medicine doctor at Austin Regional Clinic.

One way the body prevents overheating is through sweat production, she said. The sweat, which contains salt and water from the body, comes up to the skin, gets evaporated and helps the body cool down.

The body also deals with heat through processes happening in the blood vessels. Blood vessels can expand or shrink, reacting to chemicals that are present when people have heat in their body, she said. The blood vessels then disperse the heat throughout the body, such as bringing the heat up to the skin instead of keeping the heat internally.

However, because people with diabetes have excess sugar in their blood, that can disrupt the body’s natural cool-down mechanisms, Williams said.

People with diabetes are more likely to get dehydrated because of the excess sugar, meaning there may not be enough water in the body needed for sweat production. Additionally, some people with diabetes can have damaged blood vessels, preventing them from effectively cooling the body, she said.

The risks

Diabetic patients are more likely to experience heat-related illnesses faster because of the high sugars in the blood, Williams said. Especially in cases when sugar levels spike, the person with diabetes is more likely to feel thirsty, but is unable to effectively hydrate because the sugar in the body holds onto the water.

People with diabetes may also urinate more, she said, meaning they are getting rid of the water inside their body. The dehydration prevents them from getting cool and getting fluid in, leading to risks of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Heat exhaustion, which is often because of an inadequate amount of water in the body to produce sweat, can lead to dizziness, headache, nausea and other health impacts, Williams said.

Heat stroke can include symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, changes in mental state or behaviour, rapid heart rate, headache and more, according to the Mayo Clinic. In more severe cases, heat stroke can lead to organ failure, Williams said.

Williams said that high temperature impacts on diabetes will impact people across Texas. She said that humidity can also impact one’s ability to cool down because the moisture in the air prevents effective evaporation, preventing the body from effectively sweating.

Looking into Austin, she said people, both diabetic and nondiabetic, should consider if their location has access to adequate cooling resources, such as shade or air conditioning.

“If you are in the middle of downtown or you're going to be on the east side, there's not as much shade as there would be,” she said. “If you're in the middle of Zilker [Park], it's hard to get to an AC, but there's plenty of space for shade.”

Williams said that she anticipates an increased risk for heat-related illnesses in the coming summer months due to the typical hot temperatures. She said that last year, she and the ARC medical staff saw cases of “very bad dehydration,” including in non-diabetic patients.

Austin recently experienced 100-degree temperatures in mid-May, according to data from the National Weather Service. So far this year, Austin has seen occurrences of above average temperatures since January and below average precipitation, data from the NWS shows. For the June to August months, NWS is predicting temperatures will be above normal, according to a NWS forecast issued May 15.

Tips for managing heat

Williams said that both diabetic and nondiabetic people should be mindful of ways to avoid overheating.

She said working out in the morning when temperatures are generally cooler and avoiding activities during midday, when temperatures are typically hotter, can be easy solutions to help prevent overheating in the outdoors. Checking the heat index, which measures both temperature and humidity, can be another good way to prepare for the weather that day, she said.

Additionally, opting for water instead of sugary and caffeinated drinks such as coffee and soda can help maintain water in the body. Williams also recommends Gatorade as it can give salt needed for sweat.

Wearing light, loose-fitting clothing and wearing sunscreen can be good for managing health effects from the heat.

For diabetic patients, she said some medicines such as insulin are heat-sensitive and can lose effectiveness when exposed to heat. Equipment such as pumps, monitors and glucose test strips can be damaged by heat, she said. Glucose test strips can also go bad in the sunlight.

Williams also recommends talking with a doctor about any tips for managing the heat and addressing any risks of heat-related illnesses.

“Have conversations with your doctor about how to take care of yourself in the heat because every condition has something else that you may need to keep an eye on,” she said.

https://communityimpact.com/austin/south-central-austin/health-care/2025/06/01/how-texas-heat-humidity-poses-heat-related-risks-for-people-with-diabetes/ 

Managing diabetes in this summer heat

From laurinburgexchange.com

By Kathie Cox

We are in the middle of the dog days of summer and it’s hotter than H. E. Double Hockey Sticks! Since May, we’ve talked a lot about how high temperatures can affect us and the heat illnesses associated with these extreme temperatures. And who are most vulnerable. The elderly. People with special needs. Infants and children. Outdoor workers. The homeless. And those with chronic conditions like diabetes. If you have Diabetes here are some tips for you!

1. Stay Hydrated – High temperatures mean a higher risk for dehydration, which is an issue for everybody, but has a distinct effect on people with diabetes. “When you are dehydrated, you have higher concentrations of blood sugar, because less blood flows through your kidneys,” according to an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic. “With less blood flow, your kidneys don’t remove excess sugar from your blood to excrete through your urine.” So when it’s hot, be sure to drink plenty of water or sugar-free drinks.

2. Store your medications properly – High summer temperatures can affect your diabetes medications, your glucose meter and your diabetes test strips. Medication like insulin or other drugs can become degraded, so be sure to store all medications out of extreme heat. And never leave medications inside your vehicle where temperatures can reach up to 150 degrees inside! If you are traveling, take along a cooler to help keep your meds stable.

3. Stay out of the Heat of the Day – Even though exercise is an important part of diabetes management, you don’t want to be outside exercising during the hottest part of the day. That goes for all of us – Try to get your main activities done early morning or late evening when temperatures are more tolerable.

4. Know the signs of low blood sugar – some of the symptoms of heat exhaustion are similar to those of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), including sweating, light-headedness, shakiness, and confusion. You might think it’s the heat and not realize your blood sugar has fallen to dangerously low levels. So be aware of the warning signs of low blood sugar and keep some carbohydrates with you to eat if you need to raise your blood sugar. And always have a plan for a medical emergency.

5. Ask your Healthcare Team about how often you should test your blood sugar – when the weather is HOT, you may need to test your blood sugar levels more often so that you can adjust your insulin and diet if necessary.

6. Mind your Feet – People with diabetes are at risk for problems with their feet. In the summertime, you may be tempted to go barefoot or wear open-toed shoes, but the Centres for Disease Control advises against this. The CDC recommends always wearing shoes that fit as well as socks – even in warmer months. And at the end of the day, carefully check your feet for cuts, scrapes, blisters or bruises. Don’t ignore injuries to your feet and get medical treatment right away if you do have an injury of any sort.

It’s important we all take precautions while getting through unusually hot temperatures. Heat-related illness is no joke. So take precautions to prevent serious health effects such as Heat Exhaustion or Heat Stroke which can be deadly. Learn about the signs and symptoms of these illnesses and know what to do if First Aid is needed. Cooler weather will be here before we know it, but in the meantime, and while it is stifling outside, let’s all stay cool, stay hydrated and stay informed.

https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/features/health/260829/managing-diabetes-in-this-summer-heat 

People who have diabetes can be more impacted by heat

From eu.the-daily-record.com

Summer is just a few days away and with it will come the heat. Some recent summer-like temperatures were a good reminder of how the weather can make us feel, said Emily Marrison, Ohio State University Extension Educator for Family and Consumer Sciences in Coshocton County.

People who have diabetes (both Type 1 and Type 2) can feel the heat more intensely than those who do not. Diabetes can result in complications that affect the efficiency of several systems in the body. 

According to the Centres for Disease Control, diabetes can lead to damage to blood vessels and nerves. This means sweat glands can be less effective not allowing the body to cool itself as well. In general, people with diabetes get dehydrated more quickly. Not drinking enough liquids can raise blood sugar. 

Higher blood sugar can increase urination, which also can lead to dehydration. People who need insulin may need to adjust their insulin dose, so close monitoring of blood sugar levels is recommended. Insulin and oral diabetes medicines should not be stored in sunlight or a hot car. The same goes for equipment and supplies. Heat can damage blood sugar monitors, insulin pumps and test strips.

Drink water, carry emergency snack, avoid extreme temperatures

Cleveland Clinic Endocrinologist Dr. Marwan Hamaty encourages his patients to participate in outdoor activities in all sorts of weather. He simply advises them to take certain precautions. These are good tips to keep in mind:

• Drink plenty of water. This applies to everyone whether or not they have diabetes.
• Keep items to treat low blood sugar with you. Though diabetes is associated with high blood sugar levels, people with diabetes can also experience low blood sugar with increased exercise. Have glucose tabs or glucose gel handy.
• Snacks may also be helpful to regulate blood sugar levels. Discuss some good options with your dietitian.
• Avoid dehydration. When you are active in warm weather, consider carrying along a low-calorie electrolyte-replenishing sports drink.
• Avoid sunburn. This is also helpful advice for everyone. Sunburn stresses your body, and this can raise blood sugar levels. 
• Avoid temperature extremes. When possible, take it easy on exceptionally hot and humid days. There is a difference between 80 degrees and 95 degrees, and your body will let you know. Whenever possible, aim to stay in the shade rather than direct sunlight. 

https://eu.the-daily-record.com/story/lifestyle/columns/2023/06/12/people-who-have-diabetes-can-be-more-impacted-by-heat/70307464007/ 

Diabetes and hot weather: what you need to know

From diabetes.org.uk

Enjoying the sun is one of the things many people look forward to in the summer. But if you have diabetes, it can be harder to manage your blood glucose (sugar) levels in the hot weather

How hot weather affects blood sugar levels

Sitting in the sun for long periods can affect your diabetes because you're not being very active, making blood sugar levels higher than usual. On the flipside, if you take insulin to treat your diabetes it will be absorbed more quickly from the injection site in warm weather, and this increases the risk of hypos.

If you're careful about managing your diabetes then there's no reason you can't have fun in the sun like anybody else. We've created some top tips to stay sun-safe this summer.

Check blood sugar levels

If you usually check your own blood sugar levels, do this more often and be ready to adjust your diet or insulin dose if you take insulin. If you plan on being active in the sun, like going for a swim, eat some extra carbohydrate at your meal before or as an extra snack. Check your levels beforehand and have a sugary snack if your levels are low. Keep something sugary to hand too, just in case.

Keep meters and test strips away from the sun

Extremes of temperature can also affect blood glucose meter and test strips. If you use these, keep your meter and test strips as close to normal room temperature as possible and out of direct sunlight, but don’t refrigerate them as cold temperatures can also lead to misleading results.

Store insulin properly

If you take insulin to treat your diabetes, keep a close eye on how you store it. If your blood sugar levels are consistently higher than expected, it's worth considering whether your insulin could have been damaged in the sun. Insulin, in the hot weather especially, is best kept in the fridge or a cool bag (taking care that it does not freeze). 

When damaged by heat, clear insulin generally becomes cloudy and cloudy insulin becomes grainy and sticks in the side of the glass. Insulin that has been exposed to bright sunlight sometimes has a brownish colour. Do not use insulin that looks like this. Speak to your GP or a healthcare professional if you're unsure.

Stay hydrated

If you’re being active or just relaxing, everyone knows that hot weather will make you sweat. This is your body's natural way of cooling down, but you’ll need to replace the fluids. 

Drinking water or sugar-free soft drinks will help you to stay hydrated. Carry drinks with you and make sure you have regular sips. Becoming dehydrated increases the risk of hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome (HHS) or Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).

Other top tips

When you're out and about in the sun, remember to:

• wear long sleeves, loose trousers, a hat and sunglasses with a UV 400 label
• apply suncream to exposed areas of your body 15 to 30 minutes before going out in the sun
• if you have neuropathy, you may not be aware of your feet burning, so wear suncream and flip flops on hot ground.

Heat exhaustion

Heat exhaustion can develop when the body finds it difficult to keep cool. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, tiredness, muscle cramps, stomach cramps and pale skin. As some of these could also be due to unstable blood sugar levels, it's important to test regularly.

Heat exhaustion needs immediate treatment. Move to a cool place to rest and sip a cold drink. If left untreated, heat exhaustion can lead to the more severe and potentially life-threatening condition heat stroke, so take action straight away.

Symptoms of heat stroke include confusion, hallucinations, rapid breathing and convulsions, all of which require immediate medical attention.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/managing-your-diabetes/hot-weather?utm_campaign=363823_Enewsletter%20July%202022&utm_medium=email&utm_source=The%20British%20Diabetic%20Association%20t%2Fa%20%20Diabetes%20UK&dm_i=79RZ,7SQ7,1PBE5R,X1WL,1

 

How Do Heat and Humidity Affect Diabetes?

From healthline.com

Summertime can bring extra challenges for people with diabetes. Research suggests that hot weather can lead to health issues for people with diabetes, making you more sensitive to high temperatures and humidity.

You may find it harder to keep your blood sugar levels under control, and you may be at increased risk for developing heat exhaustion.

So, when the weather heats up, it’s important to closely monitor your blood sugar levels and watch for possible symptoms that your body is not handling the heat very well. That way, you can take action before the situation becomes serious.

Ways the heat can affect people with diabetes

It’s not just that the hot weather can make you feel tired and sluggish. It can have some negative effects on how your diabetes affects your body. For example, people with diabetes tend to get dehydrated more quickly than people without diabetes. Signs of mild to moderate dehydration can include:

• fatigue
• decreased urination
• increased thirst
• dizziness or light-headedness
• headache
• dry mouth and dry eyes

When dehydration becomes more severe, you may develop:

• excessive thirst
• dark-coloured urine
• low blood pressure
• rapid heart rate

Some people even notice their sweat production drops off.

Dehydration can make your blood glucose levels rise. Then, you may develop a more frequent need to urinate, which compounds the problem.

You’re also more vulnerable to heat exhaustion because diabetes can damage your blood vessels and nerves, including the nerves in your sweat glands, so you may not be able to cool your body as efficiently as it needs.

Additionally, high temps can alter how your body uses insulin. Typically, if you’re exercising, it reduces your need for insulin. But hot weather can throw a wrench into that, and you may be at risk for both high and low blood glucose levels.

That’s a good incentive for discussing with a medical professional how to adjust your insulin, if need be, to account for your activity level and the weather.

Don’t forget about humidity

In some places, it’s not just hot. It’s hot and humid at the same time. The extra moisture in the air can make the heat feel worse.

And here’s the challenge for people with diabetes: When it’s humid, your sweat doesn’t evaporate as well as it would under drier conditions. That makes it harder to stay cool, and that can make it harder for you to keep your blood glucose levels under control.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention suggests monitoring the heat index in your area, since that takes both temperature and humidity into account.

Tips for warm weather and diabetes management

Managing your diabetes carefully is the best way to stay on top of the situation. Here are a few tips to help you do that and stay safe in the heat this summer:

• Drink plenty of water. Avoiding dehydration is critical, so you’ll want to make sure you’re keeping up your fluid intake. But skip the sugar-sweetened beverages.
• Dress for the weather. That means lightweight, loose-fitting clothes to help keep yourself cool, especially if you plan to spend time outside.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages. Alcohol has a diuretic effect, so drinking alcoholic beverages will make you need to urinate more frequently, and you’ll wind up losing fluids.
• Check your blood sugar levels frequently. This includes before and after activities like exercise, which affects your blood sugar levels regardless of the weather. Hot weather can make your blood glucose levels fluctuate even more than you might realize.
• If you’re going to be outside, stay in the shade as much as possible. The heat index can be quite a bit higher in direct sunlight, so opt for the shade where it’s a little cooler.
• Exercise indoors in air-conditioned spaces. You’ll be less vulnerable to heat and humidity. Or if you really love to exercise outside, fit in a workout in the early morning hours when it’s a little cooler.
• Know your medications. Carefully read all the instructions for your medications so you’ll be aware of any warnings about heat.
• Be prepared. Keep urine ketone tests on hand if you have type 1 diabetes and use insulin, since you may be at risk for developing a complication known as diabetic ketoacidosis.

Symptoms to look out for

If you have diabetes, you’ll want to monitor yourself for the possible development of symptoms of heat exhaustion, as well as hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia. Sometimes the symptoms can be similar, so you may want to keep an eye out for a range of symptoms, and when in doubt, seek medical care.

Heat exhaustion

Your body can overheat in response to hot weather and develop a condition known as heat exhaustion. Symptoms tend to include:

• drop in blood pressure
• feeling faint
• profuse sweating
• dizziness
• nausea
• headache
• weak and rapid pulse rate
• muscle cramping
• moist or cool skin even in high temperatures

While not as serious as heat stroke, heat exhaustion can pave the way for it, so don’t ignore these symptoms.

Hypoglycaemia

Hypoglycaemia occurs when your blood sugar drops to abnormally low levels. Officially, it occurs when your blood glucose levels fall below 70 milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL).

Your risk for hypoglycaemia increases in the summer because your metabolism tends to run higher in hot, humid weather, and you’re more likely to absorb more insulin.

When hypoglycaemia develops, you may start feeling confused or develop blurred vision. Other symptoms include:

• anxiousness
• sweating
• tremors
• heart palpitations

In extreme cases, you may lose consciousness. Be sure to keep glucose tablets or another source of fast-acting carbohydrates on hand so you can take them right away if your blood sugar levels start to drop.

Hyperglycaemia

Hyperglycaemia ccurs when your blood glucose levels are too high. Your body either doesn’t have enough insulin or it can’t use the insulin it has effectively.

You have hyperglycaemia if your blood sugar levels exceed 180 mg/dL after meals or hover above 130 mg/dL before you eat.

Feeling really thirsty or fatigued? Do you need to pee frequently? Those are common signs of hyperglycaemia. Of course, excessive thirst and fatigue can also develop as a result of dehydration. But either way, you don’t want to brush them off. Check your blood sugar levels and make sure you’re also drinking enough fluids.

When it’s an emergency

If you start developing signs that you are becoming dehydrated or having heat exhaustion, stop what you’re doing. Head indoors to a cool spot, drink some fluids to help you rehydrate, and check your blood sugar levels.

If your blood sugar levels have dropped below 70 mg/dL, remember the “15-15 rule,” suggests the American Diabetes Association. That is, consume 15 grams of carbs to raise your blood sugar levels and wait 15 minutes to test your levels again.

If your blood sugar levels are too high, quick-acting insulin can help counteract high blood sugar levels in many cases.

However, if your blood sugar levels are dangerously high, don’t wait. Have someone take you to the hospital. If you have low insulin levels, and very high blood sugar levels, you could go into diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a medical emergency.

The bottom line

Summer can be a marvellous time, but the heat and humidity can take their toll on people with diabetes.

It’s important to watch out for signs of dehydration and heat exhaustion, and keep close tabs on your blood glucose levels. Keep an ample supply of fluids, medications, and other supplies close by. That way you can reach for your medication, fast-acting carbohydrates, or other supplies as soon you need them.

https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/diabetes-and-heat

Diabetes and hot weather

From diabetes.org.uk

Enjoying the sun is one of the things many people look forward to in the summer and on holiday. But if you have diabetes, it can be harder to manage your blood glucose (sugar) levels in the hot weather.

Long periods of inactivity in the sun can affect diabetes control, making blood sugar levels higher than usual. On the flipside, insulin will be absorbed more quickly from the injection site in warm weather, and this increases the risk of hypos.
If you are vigilant about your diabetes control then there is no reason you can't have fun in the sun like anybody else.
Take the following steps to ensure you can safely enjoy the warm weather.

Monitor your levels

People with diabetes will need to monitor their blood glucose levels more often and be ready to adjust their diet or insulin dose accordingly.

Keep meters and test strips away from the sun

Extremes of temperature can also affect your blood glucose meter and test strips. Keep your meter and test strips as close to normal room temperature as possible and out of direct sunlight, but don’t refrigerate them as cold temperatures can also lead to misleading results.

Store your insulin properly

If your blood sugar levels are consistently higher than expected, it is worth considering whether your insulin could have been damaged in the sun. Insulin, in the hot weather especially, is best kept in the fridge or a cool bag (taking care that it does not freeze).
When damaged by heat, clear insulin generally becomes cloudy and cloudy insulin becomes grainy and sticks in the side of the glass. Insulin that has been exposed to bright sunlight sometimes has a brownish colour. Do not use insulin that shows these changes. Speak to your GP or healthcare professional if you are unsure.

Other top tips

When you're out and about in the sun, remember to:

• wear long sleeves, loose trousers, a hat and sunglasses with a UV 400 label
• apply sunscreen to exposed areas of your body 15–30 minutes before going out in the sun
• If you have neuropathy, you may not be aware your feet are burning, so apply sunscreen and wear flip flops on hot ground.

Heat exhaustion

Heat exhaustion can develop when the body finds it difficult to keep cool. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, tiredness, muscle cramps, stomach cramps and pale skin. As some of these could also be due to unstable blood glucose levels, it's important to test regularly.
Heat exhaustion needs immediate treatment. Move to a cool place to rest and sip a cold drink. If left untreated, heat exhaustion can lead to the more severe and potentially life-threatening condition heat stroke, so take action straight away.
Symptoms of heat stroke include confusion, hallucinations, rapid breathing and convulsions, all of which require immediate medical attention.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/managing-your-diabetes/hot-weather?utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Image+-+Diabetes+UK&utm_content=Image+-+Diabetes+UK&utm_campaign=Enewsletter+August+2019