Association of Physical Activity Patterns With Nocturnal Hypoglycemia Events in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes

This study sought to elucidate the interactions among physical activity (PA) patterns, mean glucose concentrations, and the incidence of nocturnal hypoglycemia events in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, examining the moderating influence of daily dosage on these associations.

Eighty-two participants aged 6 to 18 years (43.9% girls) from the Diactive-1 Cohort Study, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, were included. Data collection involved continuous glucose monitoring, accelerometry to assess real-world PA, as well as documentation of daily insulin doses and carbohydrate counting over the same 7 days.

A total of 19 participants experienced at least 1 nocturnal hypoglycemia event over a span of 574 measurement days (106 days with and 451 days without nocturnal hypoglycemia). Higher levels of vigorous PA (VPA) were associated with lower same-day mean glucose levels (P = .014). Additionally, higher levels of moderate PA (P = .023), VPA (P = .011), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (P = .010) were associated with a greater number of nocturnal hypoglycemia events. Specifically, a significant association was identified between VPA and nocturnal hypoglycemia events when the daily insulin dose was at or above 1.04 units per kilogram of body weight per day (P = .016).

Daily VPA is associated with glucose reductions, potentially leading to more hypoglycemic episodes, particularly when there is an excess of daily insulin. This highlights the need for careful insulin management in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes engaging in VPA.