T1D and Sports: Tips for Success

T1D and Sports: Tips for Success

Embracing the Athletic Spirit with T1D

Sports and exercise are an extremely important discipline in my life. Inspired by the athletic drive of my marathon-running father, I’ve always kept sports close to my heart. Whether it’s shooting the game-winning goal, catching the disc in the end zone, or leaping over hurdles on the track, I enjoy every second of it.

My Journey with Hockey and Diabetes

For the past 14 years I’ve played hockey, a high-paced and adrenaline-filled sport. While my abilities are far from those of Max Domi and Cory Conacher, I’ve experienced a similar rollercoaster that T1D has to offer. That being said, with help from family, teammates, coaches and most importantly yourself, you can effectively manage T1D and play your hearts out each and every day. As physical activities and exercise are essential to live a strong and healthy life, let’s not let T1D interfere. Here are a few tips that many T1Ds may find helpful when managing T1D while playing sports:

1. Monitoring Blood Glucose Levels
   As a type 1 diabetic, understanding blood glucose levels while playing sports is important for determining whether you can continue to play or need a quick break. Using a CGM is very handy to quickly check my blood glucose levels from the sidelines or on the bench, as long as I bring my insulin pump or phone to the bench. Checking approximately every 30 minutes while doing physical activity is ideal. Most importantly however, check before and after sports to adjust accordingly.
2. Preparing with Snacks and Supplies
   Similar to everyday adventures, bringing snacks and other supplies when doing physical activity is crucial to effectively regulating BG. Eating a full balanced meal before doing sports helps flatten BG spikes and drops thanks to fats and proteins. Personally, eating a small sugary snack before playing sports (knowing that I will be without insulin for over an hour) helps give me an extra boost for a game. And don’t forget to stay hydrated!
3. Managing Insulin During Sports
   Before playing sports, I often suspend insulin 30 minutes to 1 hour before to avoid a low while playing. Some people using insulin pumps (like myself) prefer to disconnect their insulin pumps before hitting the ice. Personally, I do this to avoid the possibility of damage or breaking, as many of the sports I play include close or direct contact with opponents. Understand that during this time you’re without insulin for an extended period of time! When testing glucose levels after, they may appear much higher than expected, considering your tiredness and exhaustion. The adrenaline produced from the intensity of your performance often raises blood glucose levels. I recommend waiting about 30 minutes to 1 hour until bolusing any insulin. This is to avoid overcorrecting and facing a low later. Most importantly, check in with your health care team before adjusting any of your insulin levels to ensure that you’re following the best plan for you!
4. The Importance of Communication
   Communication is key to team sports… and T1D! Everyone around you is there to support you, don’t hesitate to inform coaches, teammates or trainers of your diabetes in case of emergency. Giving team trainers your supplies ensures they are safely stored and quickly accessible. Just remember to collect your pump or phone after!

Encouragement for Fellow T1D Athletes

Whether you’re an experienced athlete living with T1D or someone looking to try out a new sport, I hope some of these tips resonate with you. These tips may serve as new strategies to add to your arsenal, or may simply reinforce your pre-existing plan of action. As my doctor always said, let’s work diabetes into our lives, and don’t forget to have fun 🙂