Cold Weather and Staying Hydrated

Now that the colder weather is here, I'm finding it increasingly difficult to keep hydrated. To me, staying hydrated means drinking 60 plus ounces of water a day. During the warm months, I have no problem downing 80 ounces of water. When the temperatures start to drop, so does my water intake.

Here are some reasons to keep hydrated and tips to make it a bit easier to incorporate into your daily routine.

Hydration is the key to bodily functions

1. Staying well hydrated has a positive impact on blood sugars. It dilutes and reduces the amount of glucose in the blood and helps the kidneys flush out extra glucose.
2. Hydration makes it easier to get a nice big drop of blood when checking glucose and makes it easier to draw blood for fasting labs.
3. Since many people with diabetes tend to experience dry skin, hydration is key for skincare.
4. Meeting daily water requirements is great for our plumbing (aka, drinking water helps with urination and bowel movements).
5. Some diabetes medications may cause dehydration, so it's important to take certain medications with an 8-ounce glass of water.
6. Drinking regular amounts of water can combat ketoacidosis.

Tips for staying hydrated

• Carry a reusable water bottle that can be refilled throughout the day.
• Purchase a smart water bottle that tracks your water intake and can even remind you to hydrate.
• Drink water first thing in the morning, before consuming coffee.
• Vary your water intake by preparing hot water with lemon.
• Eat more vegetables that have a high water content, like cucumbers and squash. Squash instead of potatoes with dinner and cucumbers as a snack with spicy Greek yogurt are yummy lower carb options that help keep us hydrated!

How do you stay hydrated? Please share with us!