Diabetes: the danger of exercise.

> ‘I would recommend that you don’t attempt that. It could be dangerous. Let me just check with the doctor.’ I had just told my diabetes specialist nurse of my intention to play squash for 12 hours, in an effort to raise money for charity. My GP promptly reiterated the nurse’s concern, with somewhat increased vigour. Of course a patient with type 1 diabetes shouldn’t be attempting such a thing! The only advice I was offered, if I wished to continue, was to ‘test your blood sugar regularly’. Well, that was helpful. Regular exercise is extremely important for controlling diabetes, but is there a point at which the exercise is so intense that it actually becomes dangerous? Yes, if not managed correctly. However, the risks can be minimised or completely avoided by doctors, nurses, and patients working together to construct a plan of diabetes management before, during, and after the activity. Since being diagnosed in 2001 at the age of …