Improved glycaemic variability during a running competition compared to resting condition in people with type 1 diabetes - a case control study

Background Increased glycemic variability (GlyV) was shown to be associated with harmful effects on disease specific outcomes in type-1-diabetes (T1D). Exercise might be able to mitigate GlyV due to an increased physiological glucose uptake. We aimed to examine effects of a running competition on GlyV in people with T1D compared to healthy controls.

Material and Methods 24 people participated in this study (12 T1D (2 females)/12 healthy (6 females), age: 39 ± 9 years, BMI: 24.0 ± 3.1 kg/m2, duration competition: 94 ± 45 min). Continuous glucose monitoring system was used to assess GlyV for the 1-day pre-, during and 1-day post-competition period. Two-way ANOVA was used for group comparison (T1D vs. healthy), repeated measures one-way ANOVA was used for analysis within the respective group in GlyV (p < 0.05).

Results GlyV was significantly higher in people with T1D compared to healthy individuals for the pre-, during and post-competition period (p < 0.001). Within the group of T1D, GlyV was significantly different for the three periods (p < 0.001) and concurrently lowest during competition vs. pre- and post-competition period (pre: 31.2 ± 8.5%, during: 18.5 ± 10.3%, post: 34.2 ± 10.5%; p < 0.01). Also in healthy individuals, GlyV was significantly different for the three periods (p < 0.001) and was found to be lowest during competition vs. pre- and post-competition period (pre: 15.4 ± 5.4%, during: 7.0 ± 3.3%, post: 16.6 ± 3.6%, p < 0.01).

Conclusion This study showed that GlyV was improved in both groups during a running competition. Larger studies with repeated exercise bouts are needed for assessing the chronic effects on GlyV.

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Publication History

Article published online:
06 May 2021