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Helping Your Young Athlete With Type 1 Diabetes

Ayudar a su pequeño deportista con diabetes tipo 1

Kids with type 1 diabetes can play sports and exercise at the same level as other kids. In fact, staying active helps insulin work better and can keep blood sugar levels in a healthy range. Exercise also helps strengthen bones and muscles and relieves stress.

Before & During Activity

Does your child want to run fast, lead a team to victory, or reach a personal fitness goal? To do their best, kids with type 1 diabetes need to know how to exercise safely.

To get started:

Ask your diabetes care team for advice. Your care team may be excited to hear your child is an athlete. That’s because the team knows physical activity can help keep diabetes under control. Athletes with diabetes need to test their blood sugar before, during, and after exercise, and they need to make changes to their insulin and diet. Your care team can tell you how to do this.
Pack diabetes supplies. Packing a gym bag before a practice, game, or competition may come naturally to your young athlete. With type 1 diabetes, your child should add a few more essential items. Put together a diabetes “to-go” kit with insulin, your child's blood glucose meter, fast-acting glucose in tablet or gel form, glucagon, and any medical ID. Tossing in extra water and some healthy snacks (like fruit or whole grain crackers) as well as juice or candy in case of low blood sugars is also a good idea.
Keep the coach in the loop. A coach is responsible for the safety of the team. If your child is on a team, talk to the coach about your child’s diabetes, what to watch for, and how to handle problems. Give the coach written instructions that include: the symptoms of low blood sugars and high blood sugars; where your child’s “to-go” kit is; and how to give insulin or glucagon. Be sure your child's coach knows when to call 911 and how to reach you in case of an emergency.

Help Manage Diabetes While Kids Are Active

Type 1 diabetes needs to be kept in check throughout life. Childhood is the perfect time to empower kids with type 1 diabetes to take good care of themselves. Kids of all ages can learn to do this, and as they get older, they can gradually take charge of their diabetes care.

Encourage your child to:

Follow the diabetes care plan. The care plan spells out your child’s target blood sugar range for exercise, when to test blood sugar and check for ketones, how much insulin to take, and what to eat and when. If your child has questions, the care team can answer them.
Stop exercising when feeling unwell. Teach your child to listen to the body's signals if something doesn’t feel right. If your child’s blood sugar gets too low or too high during practice or a game, encourage your child to tell the coach. Remind your athlete that it is OK and wise to sit out when needed.
Watch for signs of:
- low blood sugar (hypoglycemia): This can happen during or after exercise when the body has used up much of its stored sugar, especially if insulin levels are still high after an insulin shot or bolus (insulin given through an insulin pump). Signs can include sweating; having a headache; and feeling lightheaded, shaky, weak, anxious, hungry, or confused. Severe cases can cause fainting or seizures.
- high blood sugar (hyperglycemia): This can happen during exercise because the muscles need more energy, and the body responds by releasing extra glucose into the blood. If there’s not enough insulin, the sugar will stay in the blood. Signs can include dehydration, peeing more than usual, being really thirsty, tiredness, feeling weak, and blurry vision.
Speak up. Encourage your child to talk to the coach when feeling unwell or noticing signs of low blood sugar. Speaking up is a skill your child can practice in sports and use anywhere, including in school and at home. And it’s a great way to build confidence.

It’s easy for children to stay active when they have a sport or activity they enjoy. Support your athlete’s passion and help your child exercise safely. Building healthy habits today will set your child on a healthy course for life.

Medically reviewed by: Cheryl Patterson, RD, LDN, CDCES

Date reviewed: August 2021

Helping Your Young Athlete With Type 1 Diabetes

Before & During Activity

Help Manage Diabetes While Kids Are Active

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