Mixing Sports and Diabetes

If you have diabetes, you don't have to let it prevent you from being a competitive athlete.

Olympic gold medalist Gary Hall swims competitively despite his Type 1 diabetes.

"I have to manually monitor my blood glucose levels," Hall says. "It gives me a reading of what my blood sugar levels are. Oftentimes I'll have to get out of practice and have a Power Bar or a glass of orange juice."

Dr. Martin Draznin describes the benefits of certain sports. He says, "Exercising muscle gets much more blood flow, maybe eight times more. And it takes insulin out of the circulation better."

But he says diabetic athletes shouldn't overlook the extra challenges that can arise.

"On the other hand, the exercise also cuts out hormones that raise the blood sugar," Draznin says.

The Physician and Sportsmedicine Journal has this advice to compete safely:

• Get a pre-participation exam before you begin training at a competitive level.
• Frequently check blood glucose levels throughout the day.
• Balance insulin, carbohydrate intake and sports activity.
• Know the risk of hypoglycemia or ketoacidosis when exercising without adequate insulin.

Four-time gold medalist Gary Hall continues to compete and says the rewards are worth it.

"Physical activity reduces my insulin needs. So if I jump in the water and am able to swim 30 laps, I might not have to give myself an additional shot. So swimming is a nice option," Hall says.

Exercise is very important for diabetics and people without diabetes. Recent studies prove exercise prevents the onset of diabetes for those at risk for developing it.