n Diabetes being a common association with heart disease, what are the special tips for diabetic patients?

If you have diabetes, dehydration also can occur when blood glucose is not under control. When blood glucose is elevated, it can lead to an increase in the body’s excretion of urine. To prevent dehydration, drink plenty of caffeine-free fluids such as water, seltzer, sugar-free drinks like iced tea and lemonade. Limit your intake of alcohol. Store your blood glucose meter, strips and insulin in a cool, dry place. Do not store insulin in extreme temperatures. Never store insulin in the freezer, direct sunlight or in the car or in the glove compartment of the car. Examine your vial of insulin. Clear insulin (Regular, Humalog, Novolog, Apidra, Lantus, Levimir) should remain clear. NPH insulin should not have any clumping or “frosting” on the vials.

The author is Executive Director, Cardiology,

Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi