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Parents of children with type 1 diabetes may wonder what level of activity is right for their kids. Some parents want to know how exercise affects blood sugar levels. Other parents may question how to get children moving and keep them motivated.

Exercise is a healthy habit for every child, including kids with type 1 diabetes. Here’s how to help your child with exercise and motivation.

How Exercise Helps Kids With Diabetes

There are many good reasons to keep your child active. Exercise can:

  • Help keep diabetes in check. Physical activity makes insulin work better in the body. When insulin works better, your child’s blood sugar levels are more likely to stay in a healthy range.
  • Improve your child’s energy and mood. Kids who are active feel better and have more energy. This can help to boost your child’s mood. Exercise can also help kids relieve stress. It clears the mind and improves concentration, which can be helpful in school.
  • Build your child’s confidence and sense of accomplishment. Some kids may be hesitant to try a new activity. When your child starts a new activity, be sure to praise the effort. For example, you could say, “Wow, you look like you’re having fun riding that bike. I can see how hard you’re concentrating!” As children learn new skills, they’ll notice their own progress and gain confidence, boosting their self-esteem.
  • Help your child be healthier throughout life. Exercise helps build strength, endurance, coordination, and balance. It also lowers the risk of certain diseases as children grow up, like heart disease and cancer.

All exercise is great, whether it's walking the dog, riding a bike, swimming, or playing a team sport. Your child can start by being active for small blocks of time and building up slowly. The goal, over time, is to help your child be active for 60 minutes a day on most days. Making a new exercise habit can be hard at first. But when your child starts to have fun and feel the benefits, you both may find it easier to stick to a plan.

How to Get Started

Here are some tips to encourage your child to get started.

  • Find an activity your child enjoys. Together, look for activities that are right for your child’s age. A fun activity is easier to keep up with. Some kids prefer mixing it up with a variety of activities, like jumping rope, walking, and riding a bike.
  • Advocate for your child. If your child plays a sport or does any activity with a coach or instructor, make sure to talk to the coach or instructor about your child's diabetes, and explain what your child needs to do before, during, and after exercise. It's also a good idea to check your child for wounds, because even small cuts and scrapes are more likely to become infected in kids with diabetes. 
  • Be a role model. Your actions give your child a clear message about what’s important to you. If you like to walk, swim, or shoot hoops at the neighborhood park already, good for you! Your child will see that you value fitness. Parents who are active give their children a positive message that will stay with them for life.
  • Ask your diabetes care team for advice. It’s likely your child’s health care team told you exercise is good for controlling diabetes, and they've probably also told you that it can affect your child's insulin needs. Turn to your care team for ideas and guidance. Be sure to ask the care team if you need to make changes to your child’s diet, insulin, or blood sugar testing schedule. They may even be able to tell you how other families of children with diabetes made exercise a part of their routine.
  • Remember to grab the “to-go” kit. When your child is exercising or is on the go, be sure your child brings the right things. Make a “to-go” kit filled with the essentials, and it will be ready when your child needs it. The kit should contain your child's insulin, water, your child’s blood glucose meter, fast-acting glucose in tablet or gel form, glucagon, and your child's medical alert bracelet. Your child will also want to bring some healthy snacks, like fruit or whole grain crackers, as well as juice or candy in case of low blood sugars. At first, it might seem like a lot to remember, but grabbing these items will become a regular part of your child's habit to be active.
  • Be mindful of your child’s blood sugar. You already know it’s important to check your child’s blood sugar. When your child is active, you’ll need to check it a few more times: before, during, and after exercise. Exercise can lower blood sugars, and checking it more often will keep you aware. The few extra checks will be worth the health benefits of your child being active. And you’ve got the care team to remind you when to check, what numbers to look for, and what to do if your child’s blood sugar is higher or lower than usual.

Staying active is a key part of keeping kids with type 1 diabetes healthy. Introducing children to exercise early will let them to find out what they enjoy. And they'll have a healthy skill they can do throughout their life.

Date reviewed: July 2021