BSPED2019 DIABETES PROFESSIONALS' DAY SESSIONS Session 2 (2 abstracts)
1Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, UK; 2Perth Childrens Hospital, Perth, Australia
Regular physical activity during childhood is important for optimal physical and psychological development. For individuals living with type 1 diabetes, physical activity offers many health benefits including improved glycaemic control, cardiovascular function and psychological well-being. However, maintaining stable blood glucose levels around exercise remains a major challenge. In particular, exercise is associated with an increased risk of hypoglycaemia. The resulting fear of hypoglycaemia is often perceived by people living with type 1 diabetes as the most significant barrier to adopting a physically active lifestyle. This presentation will provide an overview of the exercise physiology underpinning glycaemic excursions associated with exercise and will discuss evidence based strategies to reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia during and after activity, highlighting recent developments in this field. The overall aim of this talk is to provide health professionals with practical strategies to overcome common exercise related problems encountered in the clinic.