RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Current exercise recommendations for people with type 1 diabetes (PWT1D) are based on research involving primarily young, fit male participants. Recent studies have shown possible differences between male and female blood glucose response to exercise, but little is known about whether these differences are sex-related (due to physiological differences between male and female participants), or gender-related (behavioural differences between men and women). METHODS: To better understand gender-based behavioural differences surrounding physical activity (PA), we asked men and women (n=10 each) with T1D to participate in semistructured interviews. Topics discussed included motivation and barriers to exercise, diabetes management strategies, and PA preferences (type, frequency, duration of exercise, etc). Interview transcripts were coded by 2 analysts before being grouped into themes. RESULTS: Six themes were identified impacting participants' PA experience: motivation, fear of hypoglycemia, time lost to T1D management, medical support for PA, the role of technology in PA accessibility, and desire for more community. Gender differences were found in motivations, medical support, and desire for more community. Women were more motivated by directional weight dissatisfaction, and men were more motivated to stay in shape. Men felt less supported by their health-care providers than women. Women more often preferred to exercise in groups, and sought more community surrounding T1D and PA. CONCLUSION: Although men and women with T1D experience similar barriers around PA, there are differences in motivation, desire for community, and perceived support from medical providers.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Exercise-induced hyperglycemia is recognized in type 1 diabetes (T1D) clinical guidelines, but its association with high-intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE) in acute studies is inconsistent. In this meta-analysis, we examined the available evidence of blood glucose responses to HIIE in adults with T1D. The secondary, aim was to examine predictors of blood glucose responses to HIIE. We hypothesized that there would be no consistent effect on blood glucose from HIIE, unless examined in the context of participant prandial status. METHODS: We conducted a literature search using key words related to T1D and HIIE. Studies were required to include at least 6 participants with T1D with a mean age >18 years, involve an HIIE intervention, and contain pre- and postexercise measures of blood glucose. Analyses of extracted data were performed using a general inverse variance statistical method with a random effects model and a weighted multiple regression. RESULTS: Nineteen interventions from 15 reports were included in the analysis. A mean overall blood glucose decrease of -1.3 mmol/L (95% confidence interval [CI], -2.3 to -0.2 mmol/L) was found during exercise, albeit with high heterogeneity (I2=84%). When performed after an overnight fast, exercise increased blood glucose by +1.7 mmol/L (95% CI, 0.4 to 3.0 mmol/L), whereas postprandial exercise decreased blood glucose by -2.1 mmol/L (95% CI, -2.8 to -1.4 mmol/L), with a statistically significant difference between groups (p<0.0001). No associations with fitness (p=0.4), sex (p=0.4), age (p=0.9), exercise duration (p=0.9), or interval duration (p=0.2) were found. CONCLUSION: The effect of HIIE on blood glucose is inconsistent, but partially explained by prandial status.