Question:
My child has diabetes, can she still play sports?
Answer: Yes, it is good to let your child be
competitive and show their interests. If they enjoys sports, tell them
of professional athletes with diabetes such as NFL Quarterback Wade
Wilson or 1950’s tennis star Bill Talbert. This can help show them
that anything is possible and that if they pursue their dreams,
anything can happen.
Question: How can I learn more
about the effects of children with diabetes who play sports?
Answer: There are many ways.
First, you should talk to your pediatrician and ask them what your
child can and cannot do. Secondly, you could talk with another parent
of a child with diabetes and find out which sport(s) their child
plays.
Question: What can my child get
out of playing sports if he or she has diabetes?
Answer: Playing sports can
provide children many benefits. It gives them a chance to make new
friends, develop physical confidence and it can improve their
self-esteem. As a child with diabetes discovers that they can play and
be competitive with other children, it might improve his or her
outlook for their future.
Question: I have Type 1 diabetes. How is exercise different for me?
Answer: Exercise alone will not improve glucose
control in type 1 diabetes. Increased exercise should help keep your
weight under control with intensive management, but hypoglycemia is a
very real risk. Adding exercise to your diabetes care plan will
require the careful balance of food, insulin, and physical activity.
You and your health-care team should work together to find out
what'’ best for you. There are strategies to get good blood glucose
control and still let you lead an active life that promotes fitness.
Other Questions
Question: How can I be sure to
avoid injury while exercising?
Answer: You can do two things to prevent
injuries; one is to stretch before and after you exercise as a way to
warm-up and cool-down. Secondly, you should gradually build up the
intensity and duration of your exercise over many weeks or months to
be sure that you do not overdo it early in your exercising.
Question: How can I prevent low
blood-sugars at night when I have exercised that day?
Answer: You need to balance your insulin, your
food intake, and your exercise in order to have fewer low blood-sugar
episodes at night. You should work with your physician to maintain
this balance.
Question: How can I find out how
intense my workouts are?
Answer: To find out how intense your workouts
are, you need to count your pulse. To count your pulse, place your
first two fingers (not your thumb) over the radial artery, which is
found in the top third of your other wrist on the thumb side, or over
the carotid artery, which runs up the inside of your neck near the
Adam’s apple. Use light but firm pressure so that you can feel your
pulse. Count the number of beats in 10 seconds quickly after you stop
exercising. Otherwise your heart slows down too quickly to get an
accurate number. Multiply that number by 6 to get the number of
heartbeats per minute.
