[Click! Health] High Blood Sugar Risks and Diabetic Foot... The Season Diabetic Patients Should Be Careful of: 'Summer'

Summer is a particularly dangerous period that requires special attention in diabetes management. Due to humidity and heat, it is easy to lose appetite and difficult to maintain a healthy diet. Frequent rain and humidity also make outdoor activities challenging, making exercise difficult. Moreover, excessive sweating in hot and humid weather can increase blood concentration, leading to temporary hyperglycemia symptoms, which can cause acute diabetic complications such as hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome and even loss of consciousness.

Professor Jung Changhee of the Department of Endocrinology at Seoul Asan Medical Center advised, "It is important to eat healthy foods that do not rapidly raise blood sugar and maintain condition through regular exercise," adding, "Diabetes patients should be cautious as having a quick meal with cold noodles can easily raise blood sugar."

People with diabetes may develop "diabetic foot," which involves neuropathy in the feet, structural deformities, corns (calluses), changes in skin and toenails, foot ulcers, infections, and vascular diseases. As diabetic foot progresses, even small wounds may not heal and can turn into ulcers; in severe cases, poor blood circulation can cause the tissue to turn black and rot. Because wounds on the feet may not be easily felt and healing ability and resistance to bacteria are reduced, even minor injuries can rapidly worsen, leading to serious complications such as ulcers or gangrene. In the worst cases, amputation of the foot may be necessary.

Therefore, summer is a season when diabetes patients need to be especially careful. The environment becomes hot and humid, and walking barefoot is common, increasing the risk of foot injuries. If the color of the foot turns red or black, or if there are minor changes such as blisters or ulcers, it is advisable to visit a hospital. Before going to bed, wash the feet thoroughly with soap and dry them well. Also, never walk barefoot as it can easily cause injuries. Avoid shoes that do not fit well, and check inside shoes for foreign objects before wearing them. If corns or calluses are severe, do not remove them with a knife by yourself; consult a doctor. Additionally, avoid crossing legs, sitting cross-legged, or standing for too long as these can impair blood circulation.

The best treatment is continuous care. For people with diabetes, feet are more important than the face. By washing and carefully inspecting the feet at least once a day, it is possible to prevent losing a foot due to a small wound.

[Image source=Pixabay]

Diabetes patients should also be cautious about their diet in summer. In hot and humid weather, it is easy to lose appetite and be tempted to quickly finish a meal with bibim-guksu (mixed noodles) or cold noodles, or to eat a meal by mixing cold water with rice topped with pickles or salted seafood. Professor Jung Changhee warned, "However, such meals can be the worst for blood sugar control," explaining, "Excessively high carbohydrates with little vegetables or protein cause nutritional imbalance and refined carbohydrates easily raise blood sugar."

If eating a bowl of noodles, it is better to eat them with vegetables such as bean sprouts, mung bean sprouts, or radish sprouts. It is also recommended to use less salt and sugar in the bibim sauce. Common summer fruits can also be culprits in raising blood sugar. Compared to fruits high in water and sugar like watermelon, oriental melon, and grapes, vegetables like tomatoes are more beneficial for health. It is advisable to limit summer fruits such as oriental melon, grapes, and watermelon to about 80?150g after meals.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.