He understands their fears. Participating in sports can lower the blood sugar levels of people with Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes. But Riddell said exercise is important for people with Type 1 diabetes. Studies indicate keeping active can add as much as 10 years to their lives and reduce the chance of complications of diabetes.

鈥淲e know exercise is critical. We just have to make sure they can do it safely,鈥� said Riddell, a world renowned diabetes and exercise physiologist and professor in 91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Health.

Riddell, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 14 and regularly engages in competitive sports, runs an elite summer sports camp at the university. About a third to half of the campers have Type 1 diabetes and the camp teaches them how exercise can be used to better manage their disease.

On the eve of this year鈥檚 camp, which began Monday, July 19, Riddell鈥檚 team of researchers in the International Journal of Pediatrics looking at the interaction of sports and blood sugar levels.

For the study, which Riddell said is the first in the world to examine these interactions in a real-life setting, last year鈥檚 campers were outfitted with round-the-clock glucose monitors both while they played tennis, basketball and soccer at camp, and during their time at home, including while they slept.

The study is also important for high-performance athletes without diabetes who can see their blood sugar levels plummet during extreme sports, he added.

The complete article is available on . Riddell's research is funded by the (NSERC), Medtronic Canada and Can-Am Care.

Posted by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer, with files courtesy of YFile鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin.

The post Professor Michael Riddell's diabetes research covered in North 91亚色 Mirror appeared first on Research & Innovation.

A new study led by 91亚色 researchers finds that young athletes with Type 1 diabetes may experience a marked decrease in performance as a result of their blood sugar levels.

Above: The 91亚色 study found that sport skill performance for young atheletes with Type 1 diabetes was highest when blood glucose levels were in the normal glycemic range.

The study, published in the , reports that participants鈥� athletic prowess was sapped by low blood glucose, a condition known as hypoglycemia. Their cognitive abilities also declined as a result.

鈥淧hysical activity itself is unfortunately one of the factors that can cause this dip in blood sugar to occur,鈥� says lead researcher Michael Riddell, associate professor in 91亚色鈥檚 School of Kinesiology & Health Science, Faculty of Health.

鈥淧arents tend to get quite concerned about this, understandably so,鈥� says Riddell (left), who was diagnosed with the disease at age 14 and regularly engages in competitive sports. 鈥淭hey wonder, 鈥榮hould I have my child enrolled in sports at all? Is vigorous activity safe?鈥� Our results show that those with diabetes can compete on equal ground, provided they learn to manage their condition.鈥�

The study is the first to examine these interactions in a real-life setting. Researchers outfitted participants with 24-7 glucose monitors during a week-long diabetes sports camp at 91亚色, testing their skills in tennis, basketball or soccer at various times during the day and recording blood sugar levels. Participants, who ranged in age from 6 to 17, were even monitored as they slept using this new technology. Data for the study was recorded during last summer鈥檚 camp; it will run again this year starting July 19.

Researchers found that sport skill performance was highest when blood glucose values were in a 鈥渘ormal鈥� glycemic range. During hyperglycemia 鈥� or elevated blood sugar 鈥� results were only slightly reduced. This occurred nearly universally across all participants, however results suggest the degree to which one鈥檚 sport performance deteriorates depends on the individual.

鈥淪ome subjects showed only minor reductions in performance with hypoglycemia while others showed much greater impairment,鈥� Riddell says. 鈥淭his could be related to the level of blood glucose concentration, the rate at which glucose drops, and the individual鈥檚 capacity to maintain focus in the face of all these factors.鈥�

Regular exercise is known to be beneficial for people with diabetes, but can make glycemic control challenging. This balance is even more difficult to achieve in adolescents, as insulin requirements are influenced by fluctuating nutritional intake, physical activity levels, and the rhythms of other anti-insulin hormones. Adding to the confusion is that the symptoms of low or high blood glucose are often masked by exercise, because they鈥檙e so similar: increased heart rate, sweating, shakiness, fatigue and dehydration.

鈥淎ny obvious issues with performance 鈥� poor passing, failed free throws and serves 鈥� that are really out of the ordinary should be a warning sign to check blood glucose levels and add carbohydrates,鈥� Riddell says. The best way to boost blood sugar levels is to consume about 15-30 grams of a fast-acting carbohydrate, such as dextrose tablets, juice or a sports drink. 鈥淭hese are rapidly absorbed and immediately replenish the very small reserve of glucose normally found in the blood stream,鈥� he says.

Incidents of moderate to severe hypoglycemia were common on the evenings following sports camp participation. However, researchers found no evidence that a bout of nocturnal hypoglycemia influences sport skill performance the following day. Cognitive testing also showed that participants鈥� reading ability was lower during episodes of hypoglycemia, as was the ability to distinguish and name colours.

Riddell notes the importance of conducting this type of field research, as opposed to lab-based studies. 鈥淎ctually playing a sport involves different cognitive processing, reaction time and motor skill performance,鈥� he says.

The paper, 鈥淏lood glucose levels and performance in a sports camp for adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus: A field study鈥� is co-authored by Dylan Kelly, a McMaster University undergraduate student under Riddell鈥檚 supervision, and Dr. Jill Hamilton, pediatric endocrinologist, The , University of Toronto.

The research was supported by the (NSERC), Medtronic Canada and Can-Am Care.

By Melissa Hughes, media relations officer, with photos courtesy of YFile鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin..

The post Professor Michael Riddell: Type 1 diabetes affects athletic performance, but shouldn鈥檛 deter young athletes if they manage condition appeared first on Research & Innovation.