[Agility in treatment of children with type 1 diabetes--pilot study]

Physical activity is a very important element in treatment of children with type 1 diabetes. However, it is difficult to find suitable exercises for the children due to their specific needs and psychophysiological condition. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of agility as a physical activity used to improve parameters of metabolic control in children with type 1 diabetes. Additionally, we hope that this form of recreation could induce a more health-oriented behavior in children.

The experimental group consisted of seven girls aged 8-10 years, the patients of the Clinic of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology, Metabolic Disorders and Cardiology of the Developmental Age in Szczecin. The children were qualified for the study after the prior assessment of their metabolic control under the conditions of the one-day hospital stay program. The physical condition of the patients was controlled with a 6-minute walk test and the test of perceived exertion (Borg scale). All the patients were treated using a personal insulin pump and the basal-bolus therapy. The applied research method used the scheme of physical exercise performed 3 times a week, 45 min each, reaching the intensity of 75% of the maximum heart rate under effort performed by a given patient. Before the exercises and directly after their completion, sugar level was measured in the blood of the patients (Accu-chek Active). During the exercises, the heart rate was measured with a pulsometer Bauer PM 80. The exercises included outdoor games and agility sessions. Especially the latter received a positive response and high involvement. This form includes a dog going through an obstacle course, with a child as a guide.

After three months of the exercise scheme, the analysis of the collected results showed a statistically significant (p <0.05) decrease in the insulin doses (bolus) during morning hours (7-8 am), and in the evening at 9 pm and 10.30 pm, with an unchanged basal. No such decrease was observed in the control group. This study showed that an interesting physical activity resulted in a more eager and systematic effort among examined diabetic children. Its proper organization in time may help in the metabolic control in children with type 1 diabetes.