title: Type 1 diabetes mellitus and exercise in competitive athletes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The number of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus who are actively participating in competitive sports is increasing. Here, we aimed to assess individual experiences of competitive athletes with type 1 diabetes and to compare these experiences with current recommendations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey of 20 competitive athletes with type 1 diabetes, categorized as endurance (n=10) and non-endurance (n=10) athletes, was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Endurance and non-endurance athletes did not differ in gender distribution, age, body mass index, and known diabetes duration. Self-reported target blood glucose values prior to exercise were lower in non-endurance than in endurance athletes (195±34 vs. 137±28 mg/dl, P=0.001). The majority of all athletes experienced activity-induced hypo- and hyperglycemic events, independently of exercise type. However, endurance athletes used additional carbohydrate units to prevent activity-induced hypoglycemic events more frequently without monitoring their blood glucose levels than non-endurance athletes (50% vs. 0%, P=0.01). The reduction of the insulin dose on training and competition days compared to days without exercise was similar for endurance and non-endurance athletes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results point to a very individual adaption of the athlete's therapy during training and competition. However, there are distinct differences in diabetes management between endurance and non-endurance athletes.
authors: Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, Osnabrück, Germany.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Ratjen
authors: Institute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center at Heinrich Heine University, Leibniz Institute for Diabetes Research, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors: K S
authors: KS
authors: Weber
authors: Institute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center at Heinrich Heine University, Leibniz Institute for Diabetes Research, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Roden
authors: Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, Osnabrück, Germany.
authors: M-E
authors: ME
authors: Herrmann
authors: Institute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center at Heinrich Heine University, Leibniz Institute for Diabetes Research, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Müssig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D001786:Blood Glucose; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin