More than 20 million Americans live with diabetes. Despite the sobering diagnosis, don't let diabetes keep you on the sidelines. While managing the condition presents challenges, diabetic athletes can clear such hurdles. Careful attention to food, exercise and treatment will allow you to safely perform at the top of your game.
Diabetes and Exercise
Diabetes results from the inability to use or produce insulin, a hormone needed to metabolize glucose. Type 1 diabetics cannot produce insulin while type 2 diabetics cannot utilize the insulin that is produced. Uncontrolled blood glucose leads to a host of complications ranging from eye damage to kidney failure. Regular physical activity benefits athletes -- diabetic or not -- by enhancing fitness, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and boosting overall well-being.
Balancing Blood Sugar
According to the American Diabetes Association, type 1 diabetics predominate in the athletic community and face specific exercise-induced changes in blood sugar levels. Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is often the result of too much exogenous insulin, or insulin given from a source outside the body. Warning signs appear when blood sugar drops below 70 mg/dL and include mild symptoms such as hunger, dizziness and a rapid heart to more serious indicators like blurred vision and loss of consciousness. In contrast, hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, may occur during intense exercise, when too little insulin is administered or in times of stress. Nausea, vomiting and fruity breath are red flags. Blood sugar monitoring, insulin adjustments and dietary intervention are strategies that combat both conditions.
Know Your Numbers
Blood glucose levels can change drastically over the course of a workout. To determine whether you can safely exercise, the National Athletic Trainers' Association recommends testing your blood sugar before, during and after exercise. If your pre-exercise reading is 100 mg/dL or below, consume a small carbohydrate snack such as fruit or crackers. Forge ahead if you fall into the safe range of 100 to 250 mg/dL. Take caution when your reading exceeds 250 mg/dL and check for urinary ketones, compounds made when fat rather than sugar is used for fuel. Hold off on exercise if ketones are present. When blood sugar reaches 300 mg/dL, avoid exercise until levels return to a desirable range.
Managing Medication
Insulin allows many diabetics to manage blood glucose and resume their normal workout routines. Whether by injection or pump, insulin therapy normalizes blood sugar before and after meals in addition to periods of hyperglycemia. Insulin administration is tailored to your specific nutritional habits, schedule and sport. To ensure that insulin is properly absorbed, the National Athletic Trainers' Association advises users to inject just below the skin -- not into the muscle -- and avoid exposing the medication to extreme temperatures. Also, be consistent with injection sites so that your body receives the proper dose of medication. Armed with an arsenal of tools to control blood sugar, you can succeed at your sport in the face of diabetes.
References
- "Journal of Athletic Training"; National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement: Management of the Athlete with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus; Carolyn Jimenez, Matthew Corcoran, James Crawley, W. Guyton Hornsby, Jr., Kimberly Peer, Rick Philbin, Michael Riddell; December 2007
- "Diabetes Spectrum"; Management of Competitive Athletes with Diabetes; W. Guyton Hornsby, Jr., Robert Chetlin; April 2005
