Diabetes, Exercise and Competitive Sports

People with diabetes mellitus—rapidly approaching one-third of the US population—either cannot produce insulin (Type 1 DM) or the insulin they produce is ineffective in stimulating the uptake of blood sugar (glucose) into the body’s cells (Type 2 DM). Accordingly, if diabetes is untreated, blood sugar rises to dangerously high levels that can eventually cause blindness, nerve damage, and other complications. Blood sugar can be controlled by the appropriate administration of insulin and other drugs and/or by the manipulation of dietary carbohydrate and exercise.During exercise, the contracting muscles produce their own insulin-like effect,causing the rapid uptake of glucose from the blood. In people without diabetes,the body naturally reduces its production of insulin to compensate; otherwise, blood glucose would fall precipitously. (A low blood glucose concentration is known as hypoglycemia.) Those with Type 1 DM (and those with Type 2 DM who use insulin to control their blood sugar) must adjust their pre-exercise insulin dosage and their carbohydrate intake before, during, and after exercise to avoid becoming hypoglycemic.

KEY POINTS · People with diabetes mellitus-rapidly approaching one -third of the US population-either cannot produce insulin （Type 1 DM） or the insulin they produce is ineffective in stimulating the uptake of blood sugar （glucose） into the body＇s cells （Type 2 DM）. Accordingly, if diabetes is untreated, blood sugar rises to dangerously high levels that can eventually cause blindness, nerve damage, and other complications.