Did you know that climate change affects all areas of life?
No? Lets talk about it.
Imagine your body as a machine that needs a good balance of everything to work properly. People with diabetes have a special way their bodies handle sugar, which fuels the machine. But when the Earth's climate changes, it can make things a bit trickier for those of us living with diabetes.
One way climate change can affect diabetes is through the heat. When it gets really hot outside, our bodies have to work extra hard to stay cool. This extra effort can make it harder for people with diabetes to manage their blood sugar levels. It's like if you had to pedal a bike up a steep hill – you'd need more energy to do it, just like people with diabetes might need to adjust their medicine or food to keep their sugar levels in the right range.
Simply put people living with chronic illness like diabetes are more vulnerable to the affects of climate change. These vulnerabilities extend pass heat intolerance. Diabetes puts people at risk to develop comorbities like heart disease, kidney disease, impaired mental health, etc. These are just within the body. Looking outward we can see further impacts.
When there are extreme weather events like floods or storms because of climate change, it can be tough for people to get their supplies, like insulin and testing equipment. These supplies are really important to help them stay healthy, just like how you need the right tools to do your schoolwork or play a game. If they can't get their supplies, it could make it harder for them to take care of their diabetes.
Lastly, climate change can affect the kinds of food that are available. Sometimes, when it's too hot or too dry, the plants that give us healthy foods might not grow well. This can make it harder for people with diabetes to find the right foods that help them manage their health.
So, just like we need to take care of the Earth to make sure it's a good home for everyone, we also need to think about how climate change can make things more challenging for those of us with chronic illness. By working together to slow down climate change and being prepared for its effects, we can help keep everyone as healthy as possible.
All the Love,
Trisha RN, BSN
The Diabetic Diabetes Nurse
References
BMC Medicine. (2023). Diabetes and climate change: breaking the vicious cycle. BMC Medicine, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-023-02980-x
Ratter-Rieck, J. M., Roden, M., & Herder, C. (2023). Diabetes and climate change: current evidence and implications for people with diabetes, clinicians and policy stakeholders. Diabetologia. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-023-05901-y
Comments