Control is a key | First aid kit | Safety area | Insulin storage rules | Keep clean | Risk of foot damage | Trip to nature | Swimming | Forest walks | Hiking | Passport for a patient | Berry picking | Alcohol consumption | In case of injuries
Control is a key
It must be remembered that well-controlled diabetes is not an obstacle to any outdoor activities.
First aid kit
When going out of town, it is better to have everything you need with you (medicines, including insulin, a glucometer and test strips, etc.), since there may not be any medicines you need in nearby pharmacies.
Safety area
It is advisable to be in an area with good reception have other available types of communication — in case of emergency.
Insulin storage rules
Insulin has strict storage rules; if they are not observed, its properties may change. Make sure that insulin is not exposed to direct sunlight and at a temperature of more than 25 degrees Celsius, the supply of insulin should be stored in the refrigerator.
Keep clean
Far from civilization, it’s more difficult to keep clean. Remember to wash your hands before measuring your blood glucose with a blood glucose meter and treat the installation sites of the catheter of the insulin pump.
Risk of foot damage
Try not to go barefoot. With diabetes mellitus, sensitivity in the feet may decrease, the risk of foot damage increases.
Trip to nature
A trip to nature involves long walks in the fresh air. Remember to measure your blood glucose more often and lower your insulin dose to prevent hypoglycemia.
Swimming
On a hot day, you just want to plunge into the cool local pond. Make sure that the bottom is clean and do not forget to adjust the dose of insulin, because swimming is also an exercise that can reduce blood glucose. Adequately evaluate your strengths as a swimmer and try not to swim alone.
Forest walks
Going for long hikes to look for mushrooms and berries can also lead to a decrease in blood glucose. When going to the forest, adjust the dose of insulin and be sure to bring along a glucometer and hypoglycemia suppressants.
Hiking
Everyone should take hiking very seriously, but people with diabetes, in addition to general precautions (not to go alone in unfamiliar places, take a mobile phone with you, tell relatives and friends about your trip) should especially monitor blood glucose levels .
Passport for a patient
If you are going outdoors, be sure to bring along your passport (bracelet, card) for a patient with diabetes. It must include your name, diagnosis, your doctor’s phone number and procedure for hypoglycemia.
Berry picking
Collecting berries and mushrooms by people with diabetes is not an issue since they contain little carbohydrates. (For example, blueberries contain 7.6 grams of carbohydrates per 100 grams of product, and mushrooms can be ignored altogether when calculating the dose of insulin). However, their collection must be treated carefully, do not pick and eat mushrooms and berries, the safety of which you are not sure.
Alcohol consumption
After long walks in nature, sometimes there is a desire to relax with alcohol. Do not forget that alcohol increases the risk of hypoglycemia, especially after physical exertion. Try to measure your blood glucose more often with a glucometer and keep your hypoglycemic counters at hand.
In case of injuries
In the event of injuries and cuts, it is urgent to treat them with an antiseptic and apply a tight bandage. Remember that damage to the skin with nails, boards, parts of metal structures requires a tetanus shot in a medical facility. If you get a tick bite, it is also necessary to contact a medical institution where they will examine the tick and exclude infection.