Physical activity level and hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes patients

Authors

  • Camila Kümmel Duarte Endocrine Division, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.l
  • Ticiana da Costa Rodrigues Endocrine Division, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
  • Aline Juliana Schneider Merker Endocrine Division, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
  • Fabiane de Oliveira Brauner Endocrine Division, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
  • Jussara Carnevale de Almeida Endocrine Division, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Keywords:

Exercise, Self care, blood glucose

Abstract

Introduction: The recommended management for individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) includes an intensive treatment with insulin therapy and the practice of regular exercise. However, this association is related with hypoglycemia episodes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to perform a cross-sectional evaluation of the association between the physical activity (PA) level and hypoglycemia episodes reported in patients with T1D.

Methods: Adult outpatients with T1D had their PA level assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (long form), considering the intensity of the physical activity (vigorous, moderate and/or walks) in daily activities, such as at work, means of transport, domestic activities and at leisure, and answered questions about self-care and hypoglycemia episodes.

Results: The study included 126 patients who presented the following characteristics: mean age of 35 (28-47) years old and 16 (11- 24) years of diabetes duration, 55% women, HbA1c=9.3 ± 2.1%, and body mass index = 25.0 ± 4.2kg/m2. Very active patients had lower values of glucose and LDL-cholesterol when compared with the less active group. A greater proportion of active (48.1%) and very active patients (66.7%) reported practicing exercise regularly when compared with the less active subjects (13.3%; P=0.003). Less active patients had a three-fold chance of reporting hypoglycemia episodes when compared with very active patients (OR=3.49; CI 95%: 1.26-9.70; P=0.016).

Conclusions: Less active adults with T1D presented more hypoglycemia, probably due to the practice of informal moderate and/or vigorous activities without specific self-care.

Keywords: Exercise; self-care, blood glucose

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Published

2016-08-12

How to Cite

1.
Duarte CK, Rodrigues T da C, Merker AJS, Brauner F de O, de Almeida JC. Physical activity level and hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes patients. Clin Biomed Res [Internet]. 2016 Aug. 12 [cited 2025 Apr. 29];36(2). Available from: https://seer.ufrgs.br/index.php/hcpa/article/view/62173

Issue

Vol. 36 No. 2 (2016): Clinical and Biomedical Research

Section

Original Articles

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