Managing Diabetes During Gymnastics: Instructions for Safe Participation
What should an adolescent with well-controlled type 1 diabetes adjust in his therapeutic regimen to safely participate in gymnastics after school?
A. eating a snack before each gymnastics practice
B. measuring his urine glucose level before each gymnastics practice
C. measuring his blood glucose level after each gymnastics practice
D. increasing his morning dosage of intermediate-acting insulin.
Final answer:
The best approach to manage diabetes during physical activity is by eating a snack before each gymnastics practice to provide necessary carbohydrates, preventing hypoglycemia. The correct option is A.
Explanation:
Adolescent with well-controlled type 1 diabetes who wants to participate in gymnastics after school could best adjust their therapeutic regimen by A. eating a snack before each gymnastics practice.
Participation in sports and physical activities can cause blood glucose levels to drop, which could lead to hypoglycemia, a potentially dangerous condition. Type 1 diabetics typically need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their food intake and insulin dosage accordingly before engaging in physical activities. Consuming a snack prior to their gymnastics practice would provide the necessary carbohydrates to fuel their activity and hence prevent a potential hypoglycemic episode.
Regular monitoring of blood glucose levels, before and after the activity, is also important. However, it does not require any adjustment of the therapeutic regimen and hence does not answer the question directly. Adjusting insulin dosage could be potentially dangerous without consultation with a healthcare provider. Therefore, it's generally recommended to maintain a consistent insulin dosage and make adjustments to diet or snack intake to maintain stable blood glucose levels during physical activities.