Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026
12:08
Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
Published on: June 11, 2012
Managing diabetes in the heat: potential issues and concerns
Sydney A Westphal1, Raymond D Childs, Karen M Seifert
1Division of Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. westphal.sydney@mayo.edu
Summary
Individuals with diabetes face increased risks during extreme heat, including higher rates of hospitalization and death. Proper management and education are crucial for preventing heat-related complications in diabetic patients.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Environmental Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus management presents unique challenges during periods of extreme heat.
- Individuals with diabetes exhibit heightened susceptibility to heat-related adverse effects compared to the general population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the multifaceted issues concerning the management of diabetes mellitus in extreme high-temperature environments.
- To highlight the increased risks and specific considerations for diabetic individuals exposed to heat.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, covering publications from 1966 to 2009.
- Keywords included "diabetes mellitus," "hot temperature," "heat," "desert," and "insulin," with a focus on English-language articles.
Main Results:
- Diabetic individuals are at a greater risk for heat-related emergencies, dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and mortality.
- Heat exposure can alter glucose homeostasis and affect insulin kinetics and stability.
- The performance of essential diabetes management equipment, such as glucometers, may be compromised by high temperatures.
Conclusions:
- Diabetes mellitus is a significant risk factor for heat-related health complications.
- Healthcare providers must be vigilant regarding potential complications in diabetic patients during hot weather.
- Developing patient educational materials on self-management skills for heat exposure is essential and should be integrated into standard diabetes care programs.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels due to inadequate insulin production, insulin resistance, or both. The condition affects millions worldwide and can significantly impact their health and quality of life.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
01:15Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications
For most patients, experiencing several weeks of polyuria, polydipsia, fatigue, and significant weight loss may indicate the presence of diabetes. Furthermore, adults displaying the phenotypic appearance of type 2 diabetes (particularly those who are obese and not initially insulin-requiring), may have islet cell autoantibodies, suggesting autoimmune-mediated β cell destruction and a diagnosis of latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA). The categorization of glucose homeostasis is based on...
01:15Diabetes: Management and Pharmacotherapy
The therapy for diabetes aims to alleviate hyperglycemia-related symptoms, prevent acute metabolic decompensation, and reduce chronic end-organ complications. Glycemic control is evaluated through short-term (self-monitoring, continuous glucose monitoring) and long-term (A1c, fructosamine) metrics, enabling near real-time tracking of blood glucose levels and reflecting glycemic control over specific time frames.
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
01:29Hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia is an abnormally high blood glucose level. It is diagnosed by fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL, 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (or OGTT) ≥200 mg/dL, random glucose ≥200 mg/dL with symptoms, or HbA1c ≥6.5%. However, HbA1c results may be unreliable in certain conditions, such as anemia or hemoglobinopathies, and the diagnosis should be confirmed unless classic symptoms are present. Postprandial hyperglycemia is typically considered significant when glucose levels exceed 180 mg/dL two...
01:19Type I Diabetes III: Clinical Manifestations
Type 1 diabetes mellitus typically presents with rapid-onset symptoms due to the body’s inability to utilize glucose in the absence of insulin. Since insulin is required for glucose uptake into cells, its deficiency leads to hyperglycemia and cellular energy deprivation, resulting in characteristic clinical features.Polyuria and PolydipsiaOne of the earliest, most prominent symptoms is polyuria (excessive urination). When blood glucose concentrations rise above the renal threshold, the kidneys...
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...