Fear Keeps Type 1 Diabetics from Exercise

(November 30, 2008) - Fear keeps many type 1 diabetics (Read about "Diabetes") from exercise. That, in spite of the fact that blood sugar can be controlled and there are professional athletes with type 1 diabetes.

According to a new study, published in Diabetes Care, a majority of diabetics avoid physical activity because they worry about exercise-induced hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and severe consequences including loss of consciousness. Despite the well-known benefits of exercise, this new study builds on previous investigations that found more than 60 percent of adult diabetics aren't physically active.

"Our findings confirmed our clinical suspicion," say Dr. Rémi Rabasa-Lhoret, co-author of the study. "Exercise has been proven to improve health and one would assume diabetics would remain active. Yet our findings indicate that type 1 diabetics, much like the general public, are not completely comfortable with exercise."

One hundred adults, 50 women and 50 men, with type 1 diabetes answered questionnaires to assess their barriers to physical activity. The biggest fear was hypoglycemia and other barriers included interference with work schedule, loss of control over diabetes and low levels of fitness. (Read about "Getting Started on Fitness")

When questioned further, only 52 of the participants demonstrated appropriate knowledge of how insulin is metabolized and processed. Those individuals who best understood how insulin works in their body were shown to be less fearful of physical activity. Such knowledge is essential in order to adapt insulin and/or food intake to prevent hypoglycemia induced by exercise.

"We also found that individuals with the greatest fear of physical activity had the poorest control of their diabetes," says Dr. Hortensia Mircescu, co-author of the study. "Education is particularly relevant for this group."