Now that the hot weather is here, we have to be extra careful to hydrate ourselves while outdoors, especially when exercising. Flavored sports drinks that are designed to replace electrolytes aren't necessarily the best choice for people living with diabetes, since they can be loaded with sugar and extra calories and drinks with caffeine should be kept to a minimum because they do not help you stay hydrated. You can make your own sports drink by adding a small amount of salt to low-calorie flavored beverages and waters.

Do you have any other tips on how to keep from getting dehydrated while out in the hot sun? What drinks do you avoid?

How do you make sure to keep hydrated while at the beach or on a summer family outing?

For me, it all depends on the temperature, humidity, the intensity of the exercise and the amount of time I'm exercising. For example, if I'm sitting outside reading a book, water is my drink of choice. When I go for a 30-45 minute bike ride, water works just fine. But if I'm going to run for over an hour, especially when it's hot and humid, I feel a lot better when I drink Gatorade. I find that my body actually needs and uses the carbohydrate in the sports drink to fuel the exercise. Folks with diabetes should monitor their blood sugar levels before, during, and after activity to figure out the best beverage for their particular situation.