Humid weather affecting me?

[harrisphil]

Hi!

It’s my first post on here.

This week my BS has been sky high (for me), and I think it’s related to humidity. Please skip to the last paragraph to see the crux of this post... in the middle you’ll find my self introduction waffle!


Brief history:
Diagnosed Sept 2018 at age 33 with T1D in Shanghai China, after loosing weight rapidly, feeling exhausted, peeing all the time (seems obvious now, but I had been to the doctors about 3 times in 10 years prior)

Eventually admitted into hospital after a delay on getting my results back, 18kg weight lost (a lot since I was starting from 15% body fat). Admitted to hospital for 5 days with severe DKA + a fasted BS of 22.5, 14.5% HBA1C.

(The 5 days in my hotel-style international hospital in Shanghai, gained 10kg In fluids in 36hrs cleaning the acid out of my blood and a crash course in how to self inject- thank God I had insurance to cover the £15k medical bill!

I had booked a hiking trip to Everest Base Camp which was leaving a few days after I came out of hospital, but sadly had to leave my girlfriend go and spend 2 weeks in the UK. I was there re-educated about how to inject/manage my condition - and reassured that my new-found blurry sightedness would return to normal within a few weeks (something which they couldn’t give me any confidence of in Shanghai) by the wonderful NHS. By the way- that is not meant in a sarcastic way, with a Sister working as a doctor in London, I was bracing for waiting time disappointment, but they worked wonders with last minute specialist nurse/ DUK/ consultant appointments in the 2 weeks that I was back).

Moving on...
I still exercise 4-5 times per week, and 6months after my diagnosis I had an (apparently amazing) HBA1c result of 5.8%. My Dexcom eHBA1c told me 5.9%, confirming its importance for my T1D management - I don’t know how anybody could live without one! In fact my girlfriend wants one, just to understand her body more with regards eating/exercise.

I’ve traveled a lot since being diagnosed (NZ summer, Italy skiing, UK winter, Italy early summer, around China to 45degC) and with my Dexcom number following me every step of the way. I have had many mild Hypos, alcohol sessions and the occasional 18 BS after a particularly abusive carb meals.


The point of my post...
However, this week it has been incredibly humid in Shanghai + (a condition I haven’t met since my insulin control started) and my BS has been all over the place. I have eaten and trained and been at work in the normal routine, but my usual 4.5-5.5 idle BS has constantly been drifting up to 8-11. Even gym exercise doesn’t drop me that fast as usual (which is handy for endurance and not having to eat constantly, but different).

I’ve increased my Background insulin from 12 to 18 units, and my NovoRapid mealtime shots from around 0.5-2 units to 2-6 units. Still eating low carb, as I usually do, but my readings (backed up by finger pricks) are just weird!

Does humidity/sweating (and therefore more risk of dehydration) drastically affect subcutaneous insulin injection absorption?


Thanks in advance,

Phil

 

[Juicyj]

Hello @harrisphil

Welcome the forum

It is well reported with insulin users that we can either go high/low when the temperature increases, personally in warmer weather I go low more which I know is down to the fact that the heat opens up the capillaries more and insulin is transported more quickly through the body, I am unsure however what causes folk to go high, possibly the insulin is depleted more rapidly or not used more efficiently but that's purely a guess.

 

[Robinredbreast]

Hi!

It’s my first post on here.

This week my BS has been sky high (for me), and I think it’s related to humidity. Please skip to the last paragraph to see the crux of this post... in the middle you’ll find my self introduction waffle!


Brief history:
Diagnosed Sept 2018 at age 33 with T1D in Shanghai China, after loosing weight rapidly, feeling exhausted, peeing all the time (seems obvious now, but I had been to the doctors about 3 times in 10 years prior)

Eventually admitted into hospital after a delay on getting my results back, 18kg weight lost (a lot since I was starting from 15% body fat). Admitted to hospital for 5 days with severe DKA + a fasted BS of 22.5, 14.5% HBA1C.

(The 5 days in my hotel-style international hospital in Shanghai, gained 10kg In fluids in 36hrs cleaning the acid out of my blood and a crash course in how to self inject- thank God I had insurance to cover the £15k medical bill!

I had booked a hiking trip to Everest Base Camp which was leaving a few days after I came out of hospital, but sadly had to leave my girlfriend go and spend 2 weeks in the UK. I was there re-educated about how to inject/manage my condition - and reassured that my new-found blurry sightedness would return to normal within a few weeks (something which they couldn’t give me any confidence of in Shanghai) by the wonderful NHS. By the way- that is not meant in a sarcastic way, with a Sister working as a doctor in London, I was bracing for waiting time disappointment, but they worked wonders with last minute specialist nurse/ DUK/ consultant appointments in the 2 weeks that I was back).

Moving on...
I still exercise 4-5 times per week, and 6months after my diagnosis I had an (apparently amazing) HBA1c result of 5.8%. My Dexcom eHBA1c told me 5.9%, confirming its importance for my T1D management - I don’t know how anybody could live without one! In fact my girlfriend wants one, just to understand her body more with regards eating/exercise.

I’ve traveled a lot since being diagnosed (NZ summer, Italy skiing, UK winter, Italy early summer, around China to 45degC) and with my Dexcom number following me every step of the way. I have had many mild Hypos, alcohol sessions and the occasional 18 BS after a particularly abusive carb meals.


The point of my post...
However, this week it has been incredibly humid in Shanghai + (a condition I haven’t met since my insulin control started) and my BS has been all over the place. I have eaten and trained and been at work in the normal routine, but my usual 4.5-5.5 idle BS has constantly been drifting up to 8-11. Even gym exercise doesn’t drop me that fast as usual (which is handy for endurance and not having to eat constantly, but different).

I’ve increased my Background insulin from 12 to 18 units, and my NovoRapid mealtime shots from around 0.5-2 units to 2-6 units. Still eating low carb, as I usually do, but my readings (backed up by finger pricks) are just weird!

Does humidity/sweating (and therefore more risk of dehydration) drastically affect subcutaneous insulin injection absorption?


Thanks in advance,

Phil

Hi Phil, yes the hot/humid weather does seem to affect us, it's the lows that affect me, so I take less Insulin and even less if I am active, I had a couple of lows yesterday because the weather here is in the 30's and very humid. Keep testing and if you are still concerned or a little anxious, then see your health provider for advice, you could also be coming down with something. I will tag some members who may be able to advise. @therower @helensramay @Fairygodmother
@Mel dCP @Knikki @WuTwo @porl69

 

[Muneeb]

As above, in hotter climates or temperatures, blood sugars usually drop faster than slower. As well as the reason above, there's manu reasons for this, including higher temperatures lowering viscosity of fluid (blood). Therefore there is less resistance to flow and circulation maybe a little quicker, similarly insulin will be transported quicker.

Maybe change your background and fast acting insulin for new ones, as they may have gone off. Also check your injection sites for lipohypertrophy which can affect absorption rate.

 

[therower]

@harrisphil . Welcome to the forum.
I find that changes in temperature affect my insulin requirements. Never experienced really high humidity conditions just the few days in Britain were everything goes crazy hot..
I find I need to lower my dose, especially my bolus requirements. Strangely my bolus remains the same.
Just highlights how different we all are.
Keep monitoring yourself and adjusting, I usually go for a 24 hr picture before making changes.
Good luck.

 

[Jaylee]

Hi @harrisphil ,

Welcome to the forum.

I would agree with @Muneeb 's comment regarding changing your insulin cartridges to a fresh outa the fridge unit.
It is possible your insulin may have lost potency (gone off.) in the heat if not stored correctly whilst in use?

But be wary of the dosage (if it has been changed in an attempt to compensate.) when using a fresh cartridge. Drop it back to your initial recomended dose..

Look up "Frio wallets" too (if you don't have one already?) for storing & traveling with in use insulin.

Hope this helps.

 

[LooperCat]

Hi and welcome - again, can’t really add much to what’s already been said - other than to offer my own experience. I need more insulin in the heat, it seems. I’m experimenting with everything at 110% at the moment. May up it to 120...

 

[WuTwo]

I go up and down like a yoyo in hot, humid weather. All I can do is firefight. I don't change my ratios because if the weather breaks and the humidity passes - all ratios drop back to normal.

I very much tend to just test a lot more, and inject more - but not too much at a time if it's "extras" because that can do weird things too.

Last week it was like injecting water for some reason, but things are almost normal again now.

 

[Mickyduff]

Mine goes sky high in the heat

 

[pinewood]

A lot of Diabetes websites and medical advice harks on about watching out for hypos and being lower than normal in the warmer weather but I, along with a not insignificant number of others it seems, experience the complete opposite and have a lot of insulin resistance in the heat.

Over the past 3 days whilst the weather has heated up in the UK I have increased my Tresiba dose from 12U to 20U and I am still struggling with high numbers.

All you can do is play it by ear and keep a close eye on your Dexcom. One piece of advice is to watch out for what I call a “rebound low period” which is where, after increasing your basal dose for a while, you are giving your beta cells a nice rest and then they suddenly come back to life a bit and you need to drop your basal back down again.

 

[Muneeb]

A lot of Diabetes websites and medical advice harks on about watching out for hypos and being lower than normal in the warmer weather but I, along with a not insignificant number of others it seems, experience the complete opposite and have a lot of insulin resistance in the heat.

Over the past 3 days whilst the weather has heated up in the UK I have increased my Tresiba dose from 12U to 20U and I am still struggling with high numbers.

All you can do is play it by ear and keep a close eye on your Dexcom. One piece of advice is to watch out for what I call a “rebound low period” which is where, after increasing your basal dose for a while, you are giving your beta cells a nice rest and then they suddenly come back to life a bit and you need to drop your basal back down again.

It could be due to dehydration, people don't often realize how much water you lose and don't replenish in hot weather.

 

[Marie 2]

You could still be in the honeymoon phase, which is the period after you are diagnosed and still producing some insulin. This can take years in some people, especially if it's LADA/type 1. It means you keep producing insulin until you don't and it can be erratic in that you will produce more insulin for a few days and then hardly any the next few days and hence higher numbers from the same dosing, But it also means you insulin needs will go up over time and sometimes that can happen pretty quickly. It just can really vary person to person.

Dehydration also has always caused higher Bg's for me. Heat and humidity doesn't seem to bother my BG's as long as I am drinking plenty of water. But I carry water with me everywhere and am a constant iced tea and water drinker. .

 

[Bluey1]

Before I had an air con in the bedroom due to hot nights my BGL’s were all over the place. I think it had more to do with stress and sleep deprivation.