9 safe swimming tips for diabetics

Everyone should do their best to stay safe while swimming, but people with diabetes need to be even more careful. Here are a few tips to help you stay safe in the water.

A water aerobics class may be the best way to get a full-body workout in the pool — and you don't even need to know how to swim. Want to get competitive? Your pool might have a recreational water volleyball team.

Your buoyancy in the water is already protecting your joints from impact, but if you need even more lift, a kickboard will help. They're also handy if you're not confident of your swimming ability and want extra help in staying afloat. People who just want to exercise their legs can grab a kickboard by its sides and propel themselves through the water with leg power.

Swim one pool length (25 metres, or 82 feet, in a standard pool), and then rest for 30 seconds. If that didn't challenge you, alternate swimming for five minutes and resting for one minute. Each time you visit the pool, add gradually to your swimming distance until you reach 30 minutes of total swim time each session.

Swimming when you have an open wound isn't a good idea because it increases your risk of infection. Rather than skipping your aqua-workout when you have a cut or sore, ask your doctor whether a waterproof bandage is appropriate for your situation.

It may be harder to tell if you're sweating or feeling weak due to low blood sugar when swimming.  Be vigilant, and get out of the pool as soon as you suspect a problem. If you have diabetes and your blood sugar drops while you're in the water, you may not have time to get out and go to your locker to reach your snack.

Keep a high-carb snack in a ziplock bag poolside while you swim. If the pool has rules against keeping food near the water, talk to the lifeguard or instructor and explain your needs. They will probably make an exception, or will at least allow you to keep glucose tablets handy.

If you're at the beach or an outdoor pool on a warm day, you may want to disconnect your insulin pump and swim. Remember to keep the pump cool so the insulin doesn't deteriorate. Place the insulin pump in a ziplock bag, wrap a small towel around it, and place it in a cooler.

Some insulin pumps are advertised as being "waterproof" (sometimes with the use of inserts to plug the vent holes). But read the instructions carefully about the limits of this protection. The waterproofing may only apply to near-the-surface use and may not apply if you're diving more than about 2.7 metres (nine feet) underwater.

Otherwise, the chlorine from the pool water will dry out your skin and might cause it to crack. This can make you more vulnerable to infection.

People with diabetes are prone to slower healing. Serious infections in the feet can even lead to amputation. Wearing water shoes or aqua socks when you're swimming in a lake or ocean will help prevent injuries from rocks, sea life, glass or other debris. Wearing protection in man-made swimming areas isn't a bad idea either. The concrete floors of some pools are abrasive.

If you're swimming outdoors, the water may feel cool against your skin. But you could still get burned under the hot sun, even on overcast days. To be safe, always apply water-resistant sunscreen when swimming or spending the day outdoors.