Health Tip: Exercising in Hot Weather
Heat injuries range from mild forms to more serious types, including heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Heatstroke -- when the body's sweating mechanism quits, the skin become hot and dry, and the body loses most fluids -- can be life-threatening.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these suggestions for exercising safely in hot weather:
* Drink plenty of fluids even when you're not thirsty, and take frequent breaks during exercise.
* Get your body in good shape before hot weather hits.
* Limit outdoor exercise to early in the morning or late in the evening, avoiding the midday hours.
* Exercise more slowly and less vigorously for longer periods.
* Wear lightweight clothing, and avoid heavy gear.
* If someone looks like they're having a heat injury, seek immediate medical attention.
Health Tip: Maintain Healthy Blood Sugar During Exercise
Exercise typically will lower blood sugar, since insulin is more effective during exercise. But in people with diabetes, too much of a reduction in blood sugar can be dangerous.
The University of Michigan Health System offers these suggestions for diabetics to maintain healthy blood sugar levels when exercising:
* Check your blood sugar before and after exercise -- and during if you can -- and record your results.
* If you are going to exercise strenuously, make sure you eat a meal first.
* Keep snacks -- especially some with sugar -- on hand when you exercise.
* Talk to your doctor about possibly adjusting your insulin dose for exercise.
* Don't inject insulin into a part of the body that will be strenuously used during exercise, as it will absorb more quickly. For example, if you will run, inject your abdomen instead of your leg.
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