Exercise & Activities

Maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle is important for everyone, including people with T1D. There are some things you should consider while exercising to keep your blood glucose in range and stay healthy. Here are some common questions concerning sports and other intense activities, like theatre or charity work.

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Exercise & T1D

Get some thorough tips for working out and staying active with T1D!

 

Frequently asked questions

Who should I tell about my T1D on my sports team?

It is important for you to have a network of people you trust to take care of you in case something happens, like a severe low blood sugar during a sporting event. You are not required to tell all the members of your sports team, but it is recommended that an adult supervisor is educated about diabetes basics. A coach or parent should be present and be able to recognize symptoms of a low blood sugar and what to do in case of diabetes emergencies.



What supplies do I need while exercising?

You may need to bring additional fast-acting snacks with you in addition to your normal diabetes supplies. The main concern while you are exerting energy is that you will go low. Be extra vigilant and test your blood glucose if you are feeling any symptoms of going low. Take a break and eat carbs if you see your blood sugar lowering out of target range. ​ It is also advised that you bring extra infusion site changes, extra pen needles, and extra syringes in case of an unexpected emergency.



Does my dosing information change based on my extracurricular activities?

Depending on your blood glucose level, you may need extra snacks before and during activities that last longer than 30 minutes to prevent going low. The amount of carbohydrates you will need to eat depend on how long you exercise, how intense your exercise is, and your current blood glucose level before you start exercising. ​ ​In many sports, children may experience delayed hypoglycemia several hours after the event has ended. Often, an extra carb and protein snack can offset the effects of delayed hypoglycemia, but it also important to monitor blood sugar frequently.