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A day at the beach - A Swim and T1D

A day at the beach - A Swim and T1D
The sun is shining the weather is fine! Who doesn't feel like a nice cool swim, pool, lake or sea. So how do you go about swimming with type 1 diabetes? Are floaties and swim suits enough? Who doesn't feel like relaxing in the sun and enjoying those beautiful summer days? Swimming, if you have diabetes however, implies you should take certain precautions.
The heat of the summer sun increases the risk of hypoglycemia, even if you have taken your usual insulin doses and calculated your carbohydrate intake correctly. Heat widens the blood vessels that than in effect absorb carbohydrates more quickly. Your body will return to its usual rhythm after a few warm days and you can go back to your usual insulin doses.

Every person with T1D reacts differently to heat.


Let's make most of the summer season, let’s go for a picnic, a swim, a walk on the beach, or just go lazy, relax and lie on your towel with a good book.
Go for a picnic, but don’t forget to keep an eye on your carbohydrate consumption. Summer days, ice cream days! Don’t forget to serve yourself a bolus!
In short, always check and anticipate your carbohydrate consumption and the amount of energy you require for your activity in other words fine-tune your insulin dose. A physically fit person expends less energy than someone who is not used to frequent physical activity .
Check your sugar level on at regular intervals, especially if you are unsure of yourself, and adjust as needed. Don’t worry in time it all becomes a habit.

What precautions should you take when swimming with diabetes?


Swimming has been proven to be a comprehensive activity with numerous health benefits (muscles, heart and respiration, joints, etc.). However, diabetes and sports require proper care. If you have type one diabetes and you swim regularly or want to start swimming, check your blood sugar levels before and after exercise. With every activity, your body consumes energy. So before swimming, remember to adjust your insulin dose. If you use an insulin pump, reduce or stop your base. If you use an insulin pen, reduce your doses of rapid or even long-acting insulin. Talk to your health care provider and ask for advice as every person has their own specific requirements.
Swimming is an endurance sport. Therefore, in terms of nutrition, it is advisable to consume slow sugars (starch) before exercise. For some, it is also good to use starch after exercise to prevent delayed hypoglycemia, which may occur several hours later. Remember, the bodyworks on, even (and especially) after exercise!
Don't be alarmed if reducing insulin works the first time but not the next! T1D necessitates ongoing changes. Make sure to bag diabetes control material and sugar supplements as it is important to be fully equipped .
For people who wear constant glucose meters and/or a patch type insulin pump, waterproof products are available that prevent the sensor and/or the pump from coming loose when they come into contact with water. Do check out Kaio-Dia - specifically the sensor fixation products like the Dia-Band and the Dia-Style ) .
This also applies to the catheter of the insulin pump with a tube. If you prefer not to see your diabetes medication or equipment that is not on the skin (insulin pump with tube, insulin pen and glucose meter on the skin) put your toiletries in your bag! In the swimming pool you can put your things in a locker. On the beach, a cool bag is handy, this prevents insulin and the equipment from overheating and working differently. Store everything in your bag and in the shade when you go swimming. Your open insulin is best stored at a temperature of around 20-25°C. Check out the Dia- Cool or the very handy Dia-GO bag series like the Dia-GO! , Dia-GO! Easy and Dia-GO! Lite with integrated cool packs.

K-i Am

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