A new study has revealed the best types of exercise for people with type 1 diabetes. The study found differences in the response to exercise between men and women.
The study was conducted by researchers from the Federal University of Vale do São Francisco in Brazil in partnership with Staffordshire University in the United Kingdom to investigate opportunities to improve exercise for diabetics. The results of the study were published in the American Journal of Cardiology on July 31.
Type 1 diabetes
In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas produces either no insulin at all or too little. Insulin helps blood sugar enter cells in the body to be used for energy. Type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by an autoimmune disease in which the body mistakenly attacks itself. This mistake destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, called beta cells. This process can continue for months or years before any symptoms appear.
Without insulin, blood sugar cannot enter cells, causing it to build up in the bloodstream, which can damage organs and cause many of the symptoms and complications of diabetes. It most often develops in children, teens, and young adults, but it can occur at any age. Type 1 diabetes is less common than type 2, with about 5-10% of people with diabetes having type 1. No one knows how to prevent type 1 diabetes, but the disease can be controlled and its negative effects reduced.
Study results
Dr Pouya Soltani, from Staffordshire University, explained that this study is important because “people with diabetes often lack the motivation to exercise as a way of managing their condition, one reason being that physical activity can lead to low blood sugar, causing discomfort and loss of motivation. We investigated whether the type of physical activity could mitigate low blood sugar.”
Nineteen people with type 1 diabetes participated in two randomized trials to measure glycemic and cardiovascular responses to intermittent and continuous exercise. The results showed that gender differences are important when prescribing exercise to patients with type 1 diabetes, to avoid lowering glucose levels further and causing hypoglycemic episodes.
“Our study showed that intermittent exercise, such as short walks, is best for male patients starting with low blood sugar levels,” said Dr. Jorge Luiz de Brito Gomes of the Federal University of Vale de São Francisco. “Conversely, continuous exercise, such as running, is best for those with higher blood sugar levels to begin with. These approaches could help prevent sudden hypoglycemia.”
“For female patients, both intermittent and continuous aerobic exercise appear to be effective starting points,” he added, according to the EurekAlert website. “We hope that these results show that gender-specific recommendations for prescribing aerobic exercise should be considered, especially for men with irregular levels of physical activity.”
Exercise for Type 1 Diabetes: Step by Step
The American Diabetes Association website explains that regardless of the type of diabetes a person has, regular physical activity is important for overall health and well-being. In the case of type 1 diabetes, it is especially important to balance insulin doses with the food a person eats and the activity they do, even when they are doing housework.
Planning ahead and knowing how your blood sugar and body respond to exercise can help prevent your blood sugar from getting too low or high.
Sometimes people experience low blood sugar during or after exercise, so it is very important to check blood sugar and be prepared to treat hypoglycemia if it occurs.
To find out how different types of physical activity affect a patient, they should check their blood sugar before, during, and after an exercise session. A trial-and-error system can be developed to find out which exercise is best for the patient. For example, increased activity may mean you need to lower your insulin dose or eat some extra carbohydrates before exercise to keep your blood sugar in a safe range. Some activities may cause your blood sugar to drop quickly while others may not.
If your blood sugar is low before exercise, have a snack before exercise. Carry a food or drink that contains carbohydrates (such as juice or glucose tablets) that will raise your blood sugar quickly. It may take some time to figure out which exercise is best for each patient.