People with diabetes should be extra-cautious when it comes to their diet and eating habits. However, they may need to take several other precautions in order to keep their diabetes and blood sugar levels in check. Check out the following precautionary tips you should follow to avoid the dangers of increased sugar levels, especially during summer months when the heat is at the peak thereby causing sugar levels to fluctuate in the body more frequently.

Take a healthy and nutritious diet: While you do not need to go bland with your food, you must know what is good for your body when you have diabetes. It is critical that you avoid food, which offers only bad carbohydrates or saturated fats to your body. Instead, prefer healthy and balanced meals with sufficient nutrition in the form of healthy fats and carbs, protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Have fruits, vegetables, fish, and whole-wheat grains rather than processed foods, butter and margarine, trans-fat oils, and frozen items.

Stay away from sugar and spicy food: While you need to eat healthy, you also need to keep your body free of foods that contain an excess amount of sugar and spices. Refined sugar is the most dangerous thing you can consume as a diabetic. Spicy and oily foods must also be avoided because they give you trans-fat, which cannot be digested by your body, even if you work out hard. As a diabetic, you should be focused on consuming items that have healthy carbohydrates, such as fruits.

Exercise regularly: When you have diabetes, it is important to burn calories to protect your heart and other organs from the side effects of diabetes. Thus, you should walk and run more and perform cardio exercises daily to burn fat. While it is necessary to keep yourself moving, you may skip exercising if the temperature is very high during summer days. Exercise in an air-conditioned facility preferably.

Stay hydrated: Drink more water during summer days and have electrolyte-balanced fluids. However, do not hydrate yourself with carbonated drinks or those with high sugar content.

Protect your insulin pumps from heat: Have a cool place to store your insulin pumps and pens, as well as injectable drugs and blood glucose meter. Insulin pumps may malfunction after being exposed to high temperatures. If you are unsure of your insulin bottle, replace it with a new one and do not use the one exposed to heat.

Keep a check on your blood sugar levels: The most critical aspect that a diabetic must check is his/her blood sugar levels. You should frequently check the levels as a routine so you may seek medical attention, if anything is wrong. It also makes you judge whether your insulin pump has been working correctly or not.