4 Ways Winter Can Affect Diabetes

You may know that foods can spike blood sugar when you have diabetes. But did you know changes in weather can too? 

At East Side Primary Medical Care, located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, our primary care physician, Dr. Daniel Klein, specializes in diabetes management. We know how hard you work at keeping your diabetes under control and how upsetting it is to have unexpected spikes in blood sugar. 

Before you go blaming yourself for any rises in blood sugar, here are some things related to winter that can affect diabetes.

1. Stress from weather change

Bills and tight work deadlines are stressful, but those aren’t the only stresses your body fights. Dropping temperatures are stressful to your body too. When winter hits and you go outside in the freezing weather, your body goes into survival mode, triggering the release of stress hormones. 

These “fight or flight” hormones make you more alert and energized to keep you safe from danger, so you can run or fight. They do this by increasing the release of stored glucose and decreasing the release of insulin. So you have more glucose circulating in your blood and less insulin to bring it down. This weather stress can make it harder for you to manage blood sugar in diabetes.

Bundling up before you step outside when it’s below freezing may lower the stress response and the high blood sugars. 

2. Cold temperatures that keep you indoors

Instinctively, you may know that cold weather is stressful, so you stay inside. We get it. But staying indoors means less activity. 

Physical activity helps your body use excess sugar in the blood, supporting blood sugar control. If you’re skipping your daily walk or simply spending more time sitting on the couch, it may affect your diabetes. 

When it’s too cold to go outside, try to stay active indoors. Go for short walks around the office, mop and vacuum your floors at home, or do some stretching while watching TV. An at-home workout routine can also help you stay active when it’s too cold to go out. 

3. Holiday festivities

Winter is a season of many food-related celebrations, making it very hard to stick to your usual eating routine. A couple of cookies here and there or an extra scoop of stuffing can affect your blood sugar, making it a little harder to manage your diabetes.

Try to stick to your usual eating routine as much as possible during the holidays to keep your blood sugar under control. It’s okay to enjoy the festivities and the food, but continue to eat balanced meals — veggies, lean proteins, and whole grains, and be mindful of the portion size of your treats.

4. Flu and cold season

Winter weather is also flu and cold season. Sickness stresses the body and makes it hard to keep blood sugars under control. If you get sick, schedule an appointment so we can provide guidance on how to manage both your illness and your diabetes. We offer telemedicine appointments so you can see us without having to leave the house.

Getting your flu vaccine may offer a little extra protection against this common respiratory infection.

Winter weather can affect your diabetes. Let us help you prepare before the temperature drops so you can keep your blood sugar under control. Call our office today at 680-206-2794 or book an appointment online today.