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Continuous Glucose Monitoring Profiles in Elite-Level Professional European Football Players.
Kristina Skroce1, Andrea Zignoli2, Niko Mihic3,4
1Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.
Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology
|November 14, 2025
Summary
Elite football players experienced higher blood glucose levels during and after games. This suggests competition stress may cause mild hyperglycemia in healthy athletes.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Elite European football players' glucose metabolism during competition is not well understood.
- Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) offers a novel approach to track glucose fluctuations in athletes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate glucose levels in elite football players during professional game play and daily life.
- To analyze glucose monitoring data using the Abbott Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor.
Main Methods:
- Observational study involving 18 healthy male elite football players.
- CGM data collected during professional games and daily activities.
- Statistical analysis included unpaired t-tests, Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, and repeated measures ANOVA.
Main Results:
- Active players showed higher mean glucose and time above range (TAR) during games compared to reserve players.
- Significant increases in TAR and mean glucose were observed in active players post-game.
- Overall, players maintained high time in range (TIR) during daily activities, with minimal time below range.
Conclusions:
- Elite footballers may experience significant glycemic increases during and after intense competition.
- Competition-induced stress could lead to mild hyperglycemia in healthy, metabolically normal athletes.
- CGM data provides valuable insights into glucose regulation during high-level athletic performance.
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