In the context of exercise for Type 1 diabetes, what is a key management strategy?

In the context of exercise for Type 1 diabetes, what is a key management strategy?

• A. Adjust insulin and carbohydrate intake around exercise.
• B. Increase insulin everywhere.
• C. Avoid carbohydrates before exercise.
• D. Exercise only in fasting state.

Answer: (A)

Exercise changes how the body uses insulin and glucose, especially for someone with Type 1 diabetes. During activity, muscles take up glucose more readily and insulin effects can be amplified, raising the risk of low blood glucose if insulin levels or carbohydrate intake aren’t adjusted. So the key strategy is to tailor insulin dosing and carbohydrate intake around the workout. This may mean reducing or timing bolus insulin before exercise and/or adding a carbohydrate snack to prevent hypoglycemia, while still monitoring blood glucose before, during, and after activity. For longer or different types of exercise, further adjustments like temporary changes to basal rates or target glucose ranges may be needed. In contrast, simply increasing insulin everywhere would raise hypo risk, avoiding carbohydrates before exercise can lead to energy shortfalls and drops in glucose during activity, and exercising only in a fasting state isn’t practical or safe.

Exercise changes how the body uses insulin and glucose, especially for someone with Type 1 diabetes. During activity, muscles take up glucose more readily and insulin effects can be amplified, raising the risk of low blood glucose if insulin levels or carbohydrate intake aren’t adjusted. So the key strategy is to tailor insulin dosing and carbohydrate intake around the workout. This may mean reducing or timing bolus insulin before exercise and/or adding a carbohydrate snack to prevent hypoglycemia, while still monitoring blood glucose before, during, and after activity. For longer or different types of exercise, further adjustments like temporary changes to basal rates or target glucose ranges may be needed. In contrast, simply increasing insulin everywhere would raise hypo risk, avoiding carbohydrates before exercise can lead to energy shortfalls and drops in glucose during activity, and exercising only in a fasting state isn’t practical or safe.