Snow Much Fun… Hot Tips for Cold Weather

• Check your blood sugar often. Close monitoring is the best way to observe how cold weather affects your body and to address blood sugar trends.
• Warm your hands before testing your blood glucose (BG). It can be difficult to get an accurate blood sugar reading in the cold. A fuller drop of blood will be obtained if your fingers are warm, so wearing insulated gloves and/or rubbing hands together to generate some heat is always worth the effort.
• Bring adequate snacks and water when embarking on outdoor winter adventures.
• Check your blood sugar before a physical activity like sledding or getting on a lift, especially if feeling low.
• Consider having a few extra carbs that you don’t dose for or setting temp basal mode on your insulin pump if you’re going to be physically active. (Let your tried and true techniques for PE/exercise guide you.)
• Remember to stay hydrated even when it’s not hot outside. Colder weather can dry you out sometimes, especially when you are working up a sweat in a snow sport or simply playing in the great outdoors in many clothing layers under your outerwear.
• Make sure your equipment is warm enough. Wearing pumps and meters in a pocket close to your skin is an effective way to use your natural body heat to counter the cold. Remember that extreme cold can make devices inoperable and freeze insulin. Most blood glucose meters are intended to operate above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Double-check the temperature requirements on your insulin label and consider replacing the insulin in your pump if your blood sugar seems inexplicably high despite diligent testing, treating, and troubleshooting.
• Communicate with your diabetes team about what to do if your insulin has been exposed to extreme cold.
• Make sure you have backup insulin available.

Sources: Beyond Type 1 & American Diabetes Association

Ellie’s advice: Warm up with hot cocoa. We like Swiss Miss Reduced Calorie Cocoa that is only 5 carbs per serving. If you’re ready to indulge, top off with Reddi Wip (1 carb per 2 Tablespoons). Cheers to winter fun!