Summer vacation is now the bright, happy prospect for everyone. After a year with the new coronavirus as a daily protagonist, with events such as the Ukrainian war that tested the endurance and “stressed” everyone’s life, the summer holidays seem like a dream that everyone needs to live.
To enjoy life, nature and the season again, to be left in the sweetness of carefreeness and relaxation, to be renewed and to renew interests and perspectives.
“Especially people with diabetes, the most commonly referred to as a vulnerable group during quarantine, treat summer vacations as a necessity of life, especially this year when there has been so much anxiety, stress and restrictions.
During this vacation, however, you should pay attention to a few things and situations to ensure a healthy vacation without deregulating diabetes and without the risk of complications.
“Some useful tips that will be mentioned, can be a compass of instructions for sweet, relaxing summer vacations”, says Dr. Andreas Melidonis, Coordinating Director of the Metropolitan Hospital Diabetology Center, President of EKOMEN.
1. Avoid heavy and large amounts of food in summer. You prefer small and frequent meals. Insist on green salads, digestible foam fish, grilled and dry foods. Eat the fruits you allow from your diet, but re-examine the fruit matches before you go on vacation.
2. Also pay special attention to the holiday breakfast, which can be skim milk or yogurt with brown bread or cereals and fruits. Resist the temptation to try them all from the hotel’s buffet breakfast (if, of course, returning to the normalcy of summer means returning to the rich hotel breakfasts).
3. Soft drinks and especially ice cream are the cool note of life in the summer months. You can drink any light soft drink you want without special restrictions. As for natural juices, read the carbohydrate content in the casing. Do not forget that 10 to 15 grams of carbohydrates correspond to one fruit equivalent.
4. Holiday fun is often combined with alcohol consumption. Low consumption is allowed. High consumption is the starting point for short-term (risk of hypoglycemia) and long-term problems (weight gain). You can drink drinks that correspond to 20 – 25 gr. alcohol daily in 2 divided doses. So beware of alcohol, especially those who make insulin and even if taking alcohol is accompanied by intense exercise such as dancing, do not forget to eat a small carbohydrate meal in between (toast, juice, fruit or crackers) to avoid hypoglycemia. And of course do not drive when you are drunk.
5. Do not forget your tithe before swimming. A fruit or a small sandwich protects you from unwanted hypoglycemia while swimming.
6. Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. Especially if you are taking insulin, because it is absorbed faster and so sudden, unexplained hypoglycemia can occur. It is good for this reason to wear a hat.
Maybe it is better to plan your swim until 11am and after 4pm.
And in your swimming if you wear continuous glucose sensors, avoid diving so as not to create a problem of operation in the sensor.
7. Avoid putting your feet in the hot sand. Do not walk without sandals on the beach, take with you at least two pairs of comfortable walking shoes and several pairs of socks to change. Do not walk barefoot on sandy beaches and unknown beaches.
8. Walk as much as possible. If you travel by bus or car, take short walks during stops. Have a snack with you in case the meals are delayed. If you are traveling by plane, notify the airline in good time – when the ticket is closed – if you wish to be served a special meal for people with diabetes. If you do not want to change your eating habits, make sure you have something with you. Dry air during the flight is a small problem. For this reason, drink plenty of fluids while on the plane. A glass of water for at least every hour of flight.
9. Do not forget when you arrive at your destination, keep the syringes and insulin that you will not use immediately, as well as the injection of glycogen in the refrigerator. Insulin is stored at room temperature for a period of 6 weeks without deterioration. The sugar strips are kept at a temperature of 18oC to 30oC.
10. a) Find out about the existence of a Hospital or Health Center, near your place of residence. It is helpful to have your doctor’s phone with you. Do not forget the self-monitoring diary so that you can keep in touch with your diabetes control during your vacation.
b) Take care and organize your personal travel list before you leave. Get the necessary blood or urine glucose test strips for as long as you plan to be away. If you are measuring your blood sugar, do not forget your blood sugar monitor. It will be a good companion and a protection and safety device on your vacation.
And if of course you are familiar with the new technologies and use devices for continuous monitoring of sugar, do not forget the sensor and the sensor application device (such as the Free Style Libre) in order to constantly monitor your blood sugar in the most modern and safe way.
c) Equip yourself with the necessary syringes, insulin needles or pens. Glycogen injection, your antidiabetic tablets, if you are taking tablets. Also medications related to any complications of diabetes.
“Of course, we do not forget to follow the basic precautionary measures to eliminate any risk of coronavirus infection. Measures that are necessary even for those of you who have been vaccinated to minimize the possibility of infection-transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Measures of personal hygiene, hand hygiene, avoiding crowding and contact with strangers in places of entertainment, use of mask where needed especially indoors.
In order to enjoy our holidays, we apply the precautionary measures and prevent the undesirable consequences that will deprive us of the joy of the holidays “, concludes Mr. Melidonis.
Writes:
Dr. Andreas Melidonis, Coordinating Director of the Diabetological Center Metropolitan Hospital, President of EKOMEN.
