Diabetes makes being in heat difficult

DEAR DR. GOTT: I’m a 57-year-old type 2 diabetic. For the past three to five years (at least) my sugars have been high; sometimes into the 200s with my A1C over 7. My physician has recently put me on medications that have me very well controlled. I am now closer to (even below) 100.

In the high sugar years, I developed an inability to be exposed to high temperatures at length without nearly fainting, or feeling as if I were were about to faint. I was a police office (retired a year ago) and all of that gear with the dark uniform really took its toll in the summer months. Mowing the lawn or working outside on very hot days, even lower exertion tasks left me quite severely exhausted. Even though I took care to stay well hydrated, I still had problems.
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Avoiding diabetic meds

DEAR DR. GOTT: My fasting glucose has been averaging between 116 and 118 for the past 3-1/2 years. Now, all of a sudden, I’ve had a couple readings in the 135 to 145 range. What can I do without going on medication?

DEAR READER: There are a number of reasons why you might have a few random high readings. Perhaps you ate out and consumed something the evening before your testing that had a higher-than-normal amount of sugar included. Or you’ve experienced trauma, had a minor illness, consumed alcohol, or have been placed on a medication that affects your readings.
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