Diabetes and hydration

When you have diabetes, even if you keep your blood glucose under control as much as you can, fluctuating blood sugar levels can take a toll on hydration. [1] Staying hydrated can help to keep your blood sugar level. [1] If your blood sugar becomes extremely high, a hallmark of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is dehydration—IV fluids may be required, as well as insulin, to get your blood glucose down and resolve DKA. The unpredictable nature of diabetes makes it important to wear diabetes medical ID jewelry at all times.

Asthma and hydration

Did you know that if you have asthma, being dehydrated can cause your airways to become drier and more hyper-reactive to your triggers? Especially in summer and winter when either hot, humid air and pollens, or cold, dry air, can further irritate your airways, it’s important to keep hydrated to keep your airways from drying out too much. Keep a bottle of water, your inhaler, and your medical ID bracelet or necklace for asthma with you during summer adventures!

Kidney Disease, dialysis, and hydration

If you have chronic kidney disease and especially if you’re on dialysis, it is important to follow your medical team’s instructions for fluid management in the hotter weather ahead. Your fluid intake requirements will depend on your kidney function, disease progression, dialysis schedule and other health factors, and will be personalized to your needs. If you have kidney disease, wear a medical ID bracelet engraved as specified by your doctor.

Seizures/epilepsy and dehydration

The effect hydration may have on your epilepsy is individual to you. Many people with epilepsy indicate on forums that dehydration may affect how many seizures they have, but this is individual to each person. Speak with your doctor to see if they think dehydration could be triggering your seizures—as well, this might be a good time to discuss what to engrave on an epilepsy medical ID bracelet or epilepsy necklace if you do not already have one.

Heart disease and hydration

Like kidney disease, it is important to discuss hydration with your cardiovascular care team, as different types of heart disease will require different hydration strategies. [2] For people without heart conditions, or depending on the heart disease  diagnosis and if fluids do not need to be restricted, staying heart healthy can start with water—staying hydrated keeps your blood thinner and easier for your heart to pump around your body, meaning your heart has to work less hard to keep circulation going. Because of the huge impact of fluid balance on the heart, follow your care team’s instructions, and wear a heart disease medical necklace or heart patient medical bracelet.

For all of us, hydration is important, but for some populations, hydration can be of even greater priority to stay healthy. Staying hydrated also helps us feel more alert and energetic, and does a myriad of great things in the body—if you don’t have a medical condition requiring fluid restriction… drink up!