Article – ExCarbs

Four Men with Type 1 Diabetes Safely Complete a Trail Running Ultramarathon

ExCarbs Team — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 15:18:50 +0000

Four brave men with type 1 diabetes successfully completed an ultramarathon in Poland to better understand metabolic safety during extreme physical exertion conditions. To ensure their safe travels, the men received pre-competition consultations with experts who controlled glucose levels via a glucometer during the marathon and assisted with insulin pump therapy (CSII).

Clinical test checkpoints were performed at three different locations across the 82 km route, closely monitoring everything from plasma lactate levels, to carbohydrate and fluid intake as well as ketones in the capillary blood.

People with type 1 diabetes can undertake even the most extreme physical exertion activities and avoid hypoglycemia if insulin dosage as well as carbohydrate consumption are appropriately and safely adjusted. Preparation and close work with their diabetes team can make participation in physical activities not only achievable, but successful.

Recent study shows that people living with type 1 diabetes often do not do enough around exercise management

ExCarbs Team — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 22:53:29 +0000

People with type 1 diabetes are at risk for early and late hypoglycemia following exercise. Reducing this risk may be possible with strategic modifications in carbohydrate intake and insulin use. These researchers asked more than 500 adults with T1 diabetes about how they prepare for exercise.

They found that the majority took extra carbs before and after exercise as well as lowering their meal boluses. Despite these changes, the majority still has hypos after exercise.

These findings highlight the need for exercise-management strategies tailored to individuals’ overall diabetes management, for despite making exercise-specific adjustments for care, many people with T1 diabetes still report significant difficulties when it comes to exercise.

Researchers find no impairment in exercise performance in youth with type 1 diabetes

ExCarbs Team — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 22:52:54 +0000

Researchers tested to see if young people with T1D using modern insulin treatment and continuous glucose monitoring technology could successfully participate in extreme sport activity while maintaining good glycemic control.

The challenge took place in Crete/Greece over 4 days combining a long-distance trek of different levels of severity with final destination the summit of the White Mountains at 2080 m. Eleven young T1 participants from Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Greece, France, India, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia and Sweden participated to the challenge. The group walked almost 55 km under varying climate conditions (temperature 14-35 °C) without any problems related to severe hypoglycemia or DKA (with proper training and technology).
Young people with type 1 diabetes can undertake even extraordinary physical challenges while maintaining good diabetes control.

Researchers showed exercise training improves health, fitness and diabetes control in adults with type 1 diabetes

ExCarbs Team — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 22:52:08 +0000

Researchers looked at the previous medical research focusing on the relationship between exercise training and glucose control for adults and children with type 1 diabetes.

Adults who participated in the exercise training showed significant improvements in important clinical outcomes such as body mass index (BMI), oxygen consumption in relation to physical exertion (Peak VO₂) and cholesterol (LDL levels). Additionally, improvements were seen the amount of insulin needed, waist circumference, LDL and triglycerides in children. Exercise is a good thing to do!

Recent research demonstrates regular exercise reduces risks of premature mortality in people with type 1 diabetes with and without kidney disease

ExCarbs Team — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 22:49:59 +0000

People with type 1 diabetes are at a higher risk for premature mortality as well as kidney disease, which has prompted researchers to determine methods of reducing these serious health risks.

These researchers performed an observational study with 2,639 patients with type 1 diabetes to better understand the way in which baseline leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and other exercise components (i.e. intensity, duration, frequency) are associated with lowering the risks of cardiovascular mortality and developing chronic kidney disease (CKD).

The researchers discovered that exercise can be associated with lower risk of premature all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with type 1 diabetes. A similar association for patients with type 1 diabetes and CKD was also determined.

Just 15 minutes of brisk walking is enough to blunt your spike in blood sugar after a meal

ExCarbs Team — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 22:49:11 +0000

Changes in post-meal blood sugar spikes remain an ongoing challenge in type 1 diabetes. Researchers followed seven participants to determine if just 15 minutes of post breakfast-beverage walking could have an effect on glucose levels.

On day one, all study participants measured baseline fasting blood glucose (BG) using a glucometer and then consumed an 8-ounce Boost® beverage followed by a bolus of insulin; the same was repeated on day two, but was then followed by a 15 minute 50%-60% maximum heart rate walk. Significant lowered blood sugar levels were noted post meal in most participants on the walking day, illustrating how a 15 minute post meal walk can aid in blunting spikes in blood sugar for young adults with type 1 diabetes.

UK researchers examine the effectiveness of regular exercise on helping β-cells live longer after a type 1 diagnosis

ExCarbs Team — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 22:48:36 +0000

With a decrease in β-cell functioning occurring with type 1 diabetes diagnosis, preserving these cells can be important for lowering the risk of health complications. These researchers followed 58 individuals with a recent type 1 diabetes diagnosis, in an effort to determine the effects of exercise on preserving β-cells.

Over 12 months by comparing usual care plan with exercise, the exercise group became more sensitive to and required less insulin, with a suggestion of minor improvements in β-cell functioning. The bottom line: it looks as if newly diagnosed individuals with type 1 diabetes can increase and maintain safe exercise levels, however there is an additional need for future studies on more appropriate measures of understanding β-cell functioning.