Exercising safely amongst type 1-diabetes sufferers has been problematic up to now. While exercise contributes to an improved sense of well being amongst type 1-diabetes patients, it carries with it the risk of major fluctuations in blood sugar levels sometimes with disastrous consequences.
Diabetic with type 1-diabetes are always advised to closely track their blood glucose levels before, during and after exercise. Typically, light aerobic type exercise such as walking, jogging, kayaking or cycling tends to see glucose levels drop with anaerobic exercise such as lifting weights, interval sports such as hockey and sprinting are known to temporarily increase glucose levels. Both types of exercise can create hypoglycemia or severe low blood sugar during recovery, especially when patients are sleeping which can be extremely dangerous.
A clear understanding of the physiology of different forms of exercise and their potential impact on glucose levels can contribute to safe exercise regimes for type 1-diabetics.
Recently an international team of clinicians led by Professor Michael Riddell of York University published a guide to safe exercises for people with type 1-diabetes. Its creators hope that by adhering to their guidelines, diabetics might safely avoid those dangerous sudden changes in blood sugar levels from Vital Signs Monitors.
“Regular exercise can help individuals with diabetes to achieve their blood lipid body composition, fitness and blood sugar goals, but for people living with type 1-diabetes, the fear of hypoglycemia, loss of glycemic control and inadequate knowledge around exercise management are major barriers,” said Riddell.
The report “Exercise management in type 1 diabetes “, a consensus statement, published in The Lancet Diabetes & endocrinology, outlines the guidelines on glucose targets for safe and effective exercising together with insulin dose adjustments and nutritional advice for preventing exercise-related fluctuations in blood sugar.
A few decades ago patients with type 1-diabetes were slimmer and led active lives. Today, the majority of patients with type 1-diabetes are overweight or obese. They also tend to track the general population in leading inactive lives compared to historical data. A significant number of patients fail to manage their weight and rarely enjoy the recommended 150 minutes per week of moderate aerobic exercise.
As Riddell observed, “Regular exercise helps patients achieve a number of goals. In pediatric patients in particular, it reduces the cardiovascular risk profile, improves the sense of well-being and brings down average blood glucose levels.”
The report suggests both diabetic eye disease and kidney disease are less prevalent in patients who exercise. They also have a better chance of achieving a healthier body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and improved glycated hemoglobin levels, compared to less active patients.
Dr Remy Rabassa-Lhoret, director, Metabolic Diseases research unit, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (Montreal Clinical Research Institute), added, “These guidelines fulfill a major unmet need to help patients with type 1-diabetes, and their healthcare professionals, to overcome the various barriers for exercise and this, in turn, should help them to achieve the multitude of health benefits that exercise affords.”
