subject: Being Active With Diabetes [print this page] Type I is known as the insulin dependent diabetes. Natural supplies of insulin, produced in the pancreas, have failed and it needs to be replaced by regular injection.
The reasons for this failure are uncertain, although an autoimmune response in combination with genetic and environmental influences have been suggested. Type I diabetes usually occurs in childhood or early teens; however, it can occur in older people.
Both diseases result in too much glucose in the blood, the health consequences of which can be serious if the amount of glucose in the blood gets too high. In Type II, glucose may be high because even though insulin is present, it cannot store the glucose efficiently in muscle and liver.
Type I is always a result of having no natural insulin. Type II diabetes is mostly a disease of lifestyle, although genetics probably also plays a part.
Being overweight and out of shape will make you more likely to develop Type II, which is typically not reversible. Over time, they can lose some natural supply until eventually they may require the same insulin injections that are required for Type I.
Having no natural insulin creates a problem, because when you replace it with injections you do not have the body's natural adjustment mechanisms to know how much is required. Instead, you have to work it out and adjust it for various circumstances.
One of those variables is how much and how intense the activity is that you do. Most Type I diabetics already know this because they will have been trained in the dynamics of insulin use from an early age, especially with regard to physical activity.
This information is also useful for fitness trainers who may have to train diabetics. Receiving the incorrect dosage, especially taking too much, can cause blood sugar to get too low.
This is known as hypoglycemia. An occurrence of this is usually signaled by feeling faint, weak, or even worse, going into a state of unconsciousness or coma.
Type I diabetics guard against this by always carrying some sweet food or drink that can correct a hypo by raising blood sugar. Failure to correct plummeting blood sugar can be very dangerous and even fatal.
Exercise can lower blood sugar independently of insulin action. In such cases, dosage and food intake need to be adjusted around exercise time.
In addition, many medical professionals discourage the idea of exercise, especially high-intensity exercise, for Type I diabetics because of this danger. Weight training might be seen as a form of high-intensity exercise.
On the other hand, many healthcare professionals do not discourage children, adolescents, and adults with Type I diabetes from participating in sports because of the benefits of physical. This is because it is well known that regular physical activity is beneficial to the general health, and it is well known and there may also be mild improvements in glucose regulation and insulin requirements with exercise.
All diabetics should get a clearance to exercise from their doctors, specialists, or educators. Insulin-dependent diabetics need special advice on medication doses and modification of food consumption habits.
Diabetic complications may require special consideration when it comes to exercise. There are some complications that might prevent exercise, or limit type, duration, and intensity.
These complications may include uncontrolled blood glucose, uncontrolled high blood pressure, unstable heart conditions, or poor kidney function.
Other conditions may include eye and vision impairments, nerve damage to extremities, foot ulcers, or nerve damage to internal organs. For example, individuals with retinopathy or high blood pressure may be advised to avoid movement in which an exercise is performed by forcibly exhaling against a closed airway and straining to lift a weight.
This technique is not required in fitness training in any case. People with diabetic nerve damage may be advised on how to care for their feet and to look for foot ulcers and damage with exercise.
