Diabetes and Sports: Managing Your Athlete With Type 1 Diabetes

More than 29 million people in the United States have diabetes mellitus, including both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The CDC also estimates that upward of 86 million people can be classified as prediabetic, with as many as 30% of these people transitioning into diabetes within the next 5 years. Individuals with type 1 diabetes account for roughly 5% of those patients. Dating back to 2008 and 2009, roughly 18 000 youth were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes each year. The prevalence of diabetes is well known; most of the studies that are completed today relate to the progression and/or treatment of those with type 2 diabetes. Yet most physicians will have to take care of a type 1 diabetic patient who will want to be active. Having a fundamental knowledge of how exercise affects insulin and blood glucose and how to manage these patients is important. Time must be taken to modify each treatment regimen for each individual. One cannot stress enough the importance of providing patient education, ensuring adequate hydration, recognizing signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia/hyperglycemia, and how to treat and prevent these serious complications. All patients must have a care plan and access to supplies during exercise. It is known that poorly controlled blood glucose can have detrimental consequences in the long term. The question is if type I diabetic athletes who are allowed to have higher blood glucose during exercise are at the same risk for these potential complications.