Dangerous Heat Putting 37 Million People With Diabetes At Greater Risk

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The extreme heat conditions across the US over the past several months can be hazardous for people with diabetes. When the temperature rises, so does the risk for diabetes patients to suffer acute myocardial infarction (AMI)¹, which is the leading cause of death among people with diabetes. In addition, certain diabetes complications, such as damage to blood vessels and nerves, can affect sweat glands so the body can’t cool as effectively. That can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which are medical emergencies.²

For people with diabetes exposed to extreme heat, measuring their blood glucose regularly is vital. If traveling to areas affected by a heat wave, these people should be sure to bring their glucose meters and testing supplies. Being prepared for high temperatures could help prevent adverse events. Here are some other important tips from the Centers for Disease Control for people with diabetes to remember when dealing with high temperatures.³

• Stay out of the heat of the day.
• Stay hydrated.
• Know the signs of low glucose levels.
• Check your blood glucose before, during, and after you’re active.
• Don’t leave medicines inside a car.

As pointed out in these tips, one of the most critical aspects of managing Type 2 diabetes is for the patient to test their blood glucose level, usually twice a day. This could be more for some patients, depending on the care plan from their physician.

In an article in Healthline, Lisa Harris, CDE, RN at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago said that many patients with Type 2 diabetes would likely benefit from testing more frequently. “Testing your blood sugar can be extremely informative for people when they’re trying to prevent the need for further medication, like insulin,” Harris said. “Even if they’re only taking metformin, seeing for themselves how certain types of foods affect their blood sugar can have the biggest impact on motivating them to make changes in their diet.”

For people with diabetes who need a portable, accurate, easy-to-use glucose meter, the iGlucose® from Smart Meter is the perfect solution. It is the first glucose meter that sends testing data directly to the patient’s healthcare team using a proprietary cellular network in conjunction with AT&T Wireless. In a survey of people with diabetes, 47 percent of respondents said they are more likely or much more likely to test their glucose level more consistently if they knew the readings were being sent to their healthcare provider, which was an increase of 12% from the previous year’s survey.

“For people with diabetes, having their blood glucose readings sent to a provider is even more important during extreme temperatures,” said Dr. Bill Lewis, a leading telehealth consultant. “The iGlucose is perfect for frequent tests because the reading is sent immediately to a healthcare professional so the data can be analyzed, and any necessary care plan changes made in real time.”

About Smart Meter, LLC

Smart Meter is the number one supplier of Remote Patient Monitoring ("RPM") solutions to a nationwide network of SmartPartners™ who are transforming patient care and today are used by over 200,000 patients in the US. Millions of vital health data readings are reliably delivered across our secure platform, enabling SmartPartners to provide real-time, better-informed health care. Our proprietary, patient-friendly, cellular, FDA-registered monitoring devices are connected to an exclusive AT&T IoT Private Data Network to ensure an engaging patient experience for improved adherence. For more information, visit SmartMeterRPM.com

1 – Short-term association between ambient temperature and acute myocardial infarction hospitalizations for diabetes mellitus patients: A time series study | PLOS Medicine
2 – Heat and diabetes are a dangerous combination - Diabetes Voice
3 – Managing Diabetes in the Heat | Diabetes | CDC