Exercise Guidance for People with Diabetes

New guidance is set on how diabetes patients can use modern glucose monitoring devices to manage their glucose levels safely, even during exercise.

New study sets the world's first standard guidance on how diabetes people can use modern glucose monitoring devices to exercise safely. The findings of the study are published in the journal Diabetologia.

The guidance will be a crucial resource for healthcare professionals around the world, so they can help people with type 1 diabetes.

Diabetes and Exercise
Regular exercise especially in type II diabetes not only helps reduce the sugar but also reduces the demand for medication by 20% and helps you stay healthy.

‘Physical exercise is an essential component in the management of type 1 diabetes across the lifespan. Yet, acute exercise raises the risk of dysglycaemia, and the direction of glycaemic excursions depends, to some extent, on the intensity and duration of the type of exercise. ’
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The guidance, approved by an array of diabetes experts and organizations, was drawn up by a team including Dr. Richard Bracken of the School of Sports and Exercise Sciences, College of Engineering and the Diabetes Research Group, located in the Medical School at Swansea University.

Physical exercise is an important part of managing type 1 diabetes for people of all age groups. However, the blood sugar response can be difficult to predict, with exercise sometimes increasing the risk of falling blood sugar levels - known as hypoglycemia - or other times causing blood sugar to rise. Levels of glucose, therefore, have to be closely monitored.

Fear of having a "hypo," which can lead to dizziness, disorientation, anxiety, and many other symptoms, is one of the main barriers stopping people with diabetes from incorporating exercise into daily life.

Fortunately, modern real-time glucose monitoring systems are now available on the NHS or for purchase, so people can manage their glucose levels during exercise. The problem, however, is that these can be complex, and the information can be difficult for patients and health professionals to interpret.

This is where the new guidance will be invaluable. It looks at the evidence from glucose monitoring technology and uses it as the basis for clear guidance for exercise in adults, children, and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Exercise Improves Survival in Patients with Diabetes
Doctors should advise and be actively involved in exercise programs for diabetic patients in order to achieve better control of blood sugar and improved heart health which in turn improves patient survival.

The guidance covers areas like carbohydrate consumption and safe glucose thresholds. The idea is that it should serve as an initial guidance tool, which can then be tailored for the individual patient in consultation with health professionals.

The guidance contained in a position statement was published by the European Association for the Study of Diabetes and the International Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Diabetes. It is also endorsed by the global diabetes charity Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and by the American Diabetes Association.

High-intensity Exercise Program can Control Blood Sugar Levels
A 6-week high-intensity exercise program by CrossFit™ can control blood sugar levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes and also lowers the risk of heart disease.

Dr. Richard Bracken, one of the authors, and a diabetes expert from the A-STEM research team in Swansea University School of Sports and Exercise Sciences and the Lifestyle research group leader in the Diabetes Research Group, Medical School, said:

"This guidance is a landmark agreement that could end up making a real difference to people with Type 1 diabetes.

It is built on years of research into the strengths and limits of modern glucose monitoring devices. On the basis of that evidence, we can now recommend how to safely use these devices and support people with type 1 diabetes. It will help them to obtain the health benefits of exercise, whilst minimizing wide fluctuations in their blood glucose level."

Source-Eurekalert