The Barriers to Physical Activity in Type 1 Diabetes (BAPAD-1) scale: predictive validity and reliability

Digital Gaming and Exercise Among Youth With Type 1 Diabetes: Cross-Sectional Analysis of Data From the Type 1 Diabetes Exercise Initiative Pediatric Study

Background

Regular physical activity and exercise are fundamental components of a healthy lifestyle for youth living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Yet, few youth living with T1D achieve the daily minimum recommended levels of physical activity. For all youth, regardless of their disease status, minutes of physical activity compete with other daily activities, including digital gaming. There is an emerging area of research exploring whether digital games could be displacing other physical activities and exercise among youth, though, to date, no studies have examined this question in the context of youth living with T1D.

Objective

We examined characteristics of digital gaming versus nondigital gaming (other exercise) sessions and whether youth with T1D who play digital games (gamers) engaged in less other exercise than youth who do not (nongamers), using data from the Type 1 Diabetes Exercise Initiative Pediatric study.

Methods

During a 10-day observation period, youth self-reported exercise sessions, digital gaming sessions, and insulin use. We also collected data from activity wearables, continuous glucose monitors, and insulin pumps (if available).

Results

The sample included 251 youths with T1D (age: mean 14, SD 2 y; self-reported glycated hemoglobin A1c level: mean 7.1%, SD 1.3%), of whom 105 (41.8%) were female. Youth logged 123 digital gaming sessions and 3658 other exercise (nondigital gaming) sessions during the 10-day observation period. Digital gaming sessions lasted longer, and youth had less changes in glucose and lower mean heart rates during these sessions than during other exercise sessions. Youth described a greater percentage of digital gaming sessions as low intensity (82/123, 66.7%) when compared to other exercise sessions (1104/3658, 30.2%). We had 31 youths with T1D who reported at least 1 digital gaming session (gamers) and 220 youths who reported no digital gaming (nongamers). Notably, gamers engaged in a mean of 86 (SD 43) minutes of other exercise per day, which was similar to the minutes of other exercise per day reported by nongamers (mean 80, SD 47 min).

Conclusions

Digital gaming sessions were longer in duration, and youth had less changes in glucose and lower mean heart rates during these sessions when compared to other exercise sessions. Nevertheless, gamers reported similar levels of other exercise per day as nongamers, suggesting that digital gaming may not fully displace other exercise among youth with T1D.

Developing type 1 diabetes resources: a qualitative study to identify resources needed to upskill and support community sport coaches

Introduction

Community sport coaches in Western Australia lack an understanding, the confidence, and knowledge in supporting young people with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). This study aims to identify what T1D educational resources are required to upskill coaches in Western Australia.

Methods

Semi-structured online interviews were conducted with i) young people living with T1D, ii) parents of young people living with T1D and iii) community sport coaches. The questions explored i) past experiences of T1D management in community sport ii) the T1D information coaches should be expected to know about and iii) the format of resources to be developed. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts was performed, and the themes identified were used to guide resource development.

Results

Thirty-two participants (16 young people living with T1D, 8 parents, 8 coaches) were interviewed. From the interviews, young people wanted coaches to have a better understanding of what T1D is and the effect it has on their sporting performance, parents wanted a resource that explains T1D to coaches, and sports coaches wanted to know the actions to best support a player living with T1D. All groups identified that signs and symptoms of hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia needed to be a key component of the resource. Sports coaches wanted a resource that is simple, quick to read and available in a variety of different formats.

Conclusion

The interviews resulted in valuable information gained from all groups and have reinforced the need for the development of specific resources to increase community knowledge and provide support for players with T1D, parents and sport coaches.

Comparative Analysis of Predictive Interstitial Glucose Level Classification Models

BACKGROUND

New methods of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) provide real-time alerts for hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and rapid fluctuations of glucose levels, thereby improving glycemic control, which is especially crucial during meals and physical activity. However, complex CGM systems pose challenges for individuals with diabetes and healthcare professionals, particularly when interpreting rapid glucose level changes, dealing with sensor delays (approximately a 10 min difference between interstitial and plasma glucose readings), and addressing potential malfunctions. The development of advanced predictive glucose level classification models becomes imperative for optimizing insulin dosing and managing daily activities.

METHODS

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of three different predictive models for the glucose level classification: (1) an autoregressive integrated moving average model (ARIMA), (2) logistic regression, and (3) long short-term memory networks (LSTM). The performance of these models was evaluated in predicting hypoglycemia (<70 mg/dL), euglycemia (70-180 mg/dL), and hyperglycemia (>180 mg/dL) classes 15 min and 1 h ahead. More specifically, the confusion matrices were obtained and metrics such as precision, recall, and accuracy were computed for each model at each predictive horizon.

RESULTS

As expected, ARIMA underperformed the other models in predicting hyper- and hypoglycemia classes for both the 15 min and 1 h horizons. For the 15 min forecast horizon, the performance of logistic regression was the highest of all the models for all glycemia classes, with recall rates of 96% for hyper, 91% for norm, and 98% for hypoglycemia. For the 1 h forecast horizon, the LSTM model turned out to be the best for hyper- and hypoglycemia classes, achieving recall values of 85% and 87% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that different models may have varying strengths and weaknesses in predicting glucose level classes, and the choice of model should be carefully considered based on the specific requirements and context of the clinical application. The logistic regression model proved to be more accurate for the next 15 min, particularly in predicting hypoglycemia. However, the LSTM model outperformed logistic regression in predicting glucose level class for the next hour. Future research could explore hybrid models or ensemble approaches that combine the strengths of multiple models to further enhance the accuracy and reliability of glucose predictions.

Barriers to Exercise in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes and Insulin Resistance

OBJECTIVE

Our aim in this study was to assess attitudes toward exercise and quality of life (QoL) in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) with and without insulin resistance (IR).

METHODS

We pooled baseline pretreatment data from a subset of individuals with T1D from 2 randomized controlled trials. Estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR), a validated surrogate marker of IR, was calculated using an established formula to classify individuals according to IR status with a cutpoint of <6 mg/kg/min for the determination of IR. Self-reported barriers to exercise were obtained using a validated questionnaire, the Barriers to Physical Activity in T1D (BAPAD-1). In addition, QoL was determined using the 36-item Short Form (SF-36) questionnaire. Differences between dichotomized variables were assessed using the independent t test, Mann-Whitney U test, or Fisher exact test. Linear regression was employed to explore the association of eGDR with BAPAD-1 and QoL scores, with sequential adjustment for potential confounders.

RESULTS

Of the 85 individuals included in our study, 39 were classified as having IR. The mean BAPAD-1 total score was higher for individuals with IR (IR: 3.87±0.61; non-IR: 2.83±0.55; p<0.001). The highest exercise barrier scores for individuals with IR were risk of hypoglycemia (5.67±1.26) and risk of hyperglycemia (5.23±1.20), whereas the highest scoring exercise barrier scores for non-IR individuals were not diabetes-related, with low level of fitness (3.91±1.26) and physical health status, excluding diabetes (3.67±1.48), ranked highest. QoL scores were comparable between groups (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Risk of hypoglycemia was the greatest barrier to exercise in individuals with T1D with IR, whereas non-diabetes-related barriers to exercise were more salient in individuals with T1D without IR.

Physical exercise and glycemic management in patients with type 1 diabetes on insulin pump therapy-a cross-sectional study

AIMS

Exercise is an important practice for control in type 1 diabetes (T1D). This study aims to assess de association between exercise and glycemic management in people with T1D and to identify the main barriers to exercise in T1D.

METHODS

We evaluated 95 people with T1D treated with insulin pump therapy. Participants answered a questionnaire about 1) exercise habits, 2) usual adjustments in insulin and food intake with exercise and 3) main barriers to exercise. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) was used to evaluate time in range (TIR), time below range (TBR) and time above range (TAR) during the last 60 days before the evaluation. CGM data during, before (2 h before) and after (24 h after) the last bout of exercise was also evaluated.

RESULTS

The mean age was 30.1 ± 12.1 years, and 51.6% were women. Participants that reported practicing exercise (55.8%) had a higher TIR (59.6 ± 16.3 vs. 48.7 ± 15.7, p = 0.012) and a lower TAR (32.6 ± 15.8 vs. 45.4 ± 17.7, p = 0.006). Comparing with the 60 days CGM data, the TBR was lower in the 2 h before exercise (- 1.8 ± 3.8, p = 0.0454) and TAR was lower during (- 16.9 ± 33.6, p = 0.0320) and in the 24 h after (- 8.7 ± 17.2, p = 0.032) the last bout of exercise. The absence of adjustments on insulin and food intake was associated with higher TBR after the exercise (13.44 ± 3.5, p < 0.05). Eating before the exercise and turning off the pump during the exercise were associated with lower TBR after exercise (food booster: - 7.56 ± 3.49, p < 0.05; turning off insulin pump - 8.87 ± 3.52, p < 0.05). The main barriers reported for exercise practicing were fear of hypoglycemia, lack of free time and work schedule.

CONCLUSION

Exercise was associated with better glycemic management in people with T1D. Addressing common barriers may allow a higher adherence to exercise in T1D.

Blood glucose response to running or cycling in individuals with type 1 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess how running and cycling influence the magnitude of blood glucose (BG) excursions in individuals with type 1 diabetes.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted in EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ISI Web of Knowledge for publications from January 1950 until February 2021. Parameters included for analysis were population (adults and adolescents), exercise type, intensity, duration and insulin preparation. The meta-analysis was performed to estimate the pooled mean with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of delta BG levels. In addition, sub-group and meta-regression analyses were performed to assess the influence of these parameters on delta BG.

RESULTS

The database search identified 3192 articles of which 69 articles were included in the meta-analysis. Due to crossover designs within articles, 151 different results were included for analysis. Data from 1901 exercise tests of individuals with type 1 diabetes with a mean age of 29 ± 4 years were included. Overall, exercise tests BG decreased by -3.1 mmol/L [-3.4; -2.8] within a mean duration of 46 ± 21 min. The pooled mean decrease in BG for running was -4.1 mmol/L [-4.7; -2.4], whilst the pooled mean decrease in BG for cycling was -2.7 mmol/L [-3.0; -2.4] (p < 0.0001). Overall results can be found in Table S2.

CONCLUSIONS

Running led to a larger decrease in BG in comparison to cycling. Active individuals with type 1 diabetes should be aware that current recommendations for glycaemic management need to be more specific to the mode of exercise.

Association of HbA1c with VO2max in Individuals with Type 1 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the association between glycemic control (HbA1c) and functional capacity (VO2max) in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1DM). A systematic literature search was conducted in EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ISI Web of Knowledge for publications from January 1950 until July 2020. Randomized and observational controlled trials with a minimum number of three participants were included if cardio-pulmonary exercise tests to determine VO2max and HbA1c measurement has been performed. Pooled mean values were estimated for VO2max and HbA1c and weighted Pearson correlation and meta-regression were performed to assess the association between these parameters. We included 187 studies with a total of 3278 individuals with T1DM. The pooled mean HbA1c value was 8.1% (95%CI; 7.9−8.3%), and relative VO2max was 38.5 mL/min/kg (37.3−39.6). The pooled mean VO2max was significantly lower (36.9 vs. 40.7, p = 0.001) in studies reporting a mean HbA1c > 7.5% compared to studies with a mean HbA1c ≤ 7.5%. Weighted Pearson correlation coefficient was r = −0.19 (p < 0.001) between VO2max and HbA1c. Meta-regression adjusted for age and sex showed a significant decrease of −0.94 mL/min/kg in VO2max per HbA1c increase of 1% (p = 0.024). In conclusion, we were able to determine a statistically significant correlation between HbA1c and VO2max in individuals with T1DM. However, as the correlation was only weak, the association of HbA1c and VO2max might not be of clinical relevance in individuals with T1DM.

Teamwork, Targets, Technology, and Tight Control in Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes: the Pilot 4T Study

CONTEXT

Youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) do not meet glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) targets.

OBJECTIVE

This work aimed to assess HbA1c outcomes in children with new-onset T1D enrolled in the Teamwork, Targets, Technology and Tight Control (4T) Study.

METHODS

HbA1c levels were compared between the 4T and historical cohorts. HbA1c differences between cohorts were estimated using locally estimated scatter plot smoothing (LOESS). The change from nadir HbA1c (month 4) to 12 months post diagnosis was estimated by cohort using a piecewise mixed-effects regression model accounting for age at diagnosis, sex, ethnicity, and insurance type. We recruited 135 youth with newly diagnosed T1D at Stanford Children's Health. Starting July 2018, all youth within the first month of T1D diagnosis were offered continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) initiation and remote CGM data review was added in March 2019. The main outcomes measure was HbA1c.

RESULTS

HbA1c at 6, 9, and 12 months post diagnosis was lower in the 4T cohort than in the historic cohort (-0.54% to -0.52%, and -0.58%, respectively). Within the 4T cohort, HbA1c at 6, 9, and 12 months post diagnosis was lower in those patients with remote monitoring than those without (-0.14%, -0.18% to -0.14%, respectively). Multivariable regression analysis showed that the 4T cohort experienced a significantly lower increase in HbA1c between months 4 and 12 (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

A technology-enabled, team-based approach to intensified new-onset education involving target setting, CGM initiation, and remote data review statistically significantly decreased HbA1c in youth with T1D 12 months post diagnosis.

Integration of Consumer-Based Activity Monitors into Clinical Practice for Children with Type 1 Diabetes: A Feasibility Study

Current technology commonly utilized in diabetes care includes continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and insulin pumps. One often overlooked critical component to the human glucose response is daily physical activity habits. Consumer-based activity monitors may be a valid way for clinics to collect physical activity data, but whether or not children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) would wear them or use the associated mobile application is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of implementing a consumer-based accelerometer directly into ongoing care for adolescents managing T1D. Methods: Adolescents with T1D were invited to participate in this study and instructed to wear a mobile physical activity monitor while also completing a diet log for a minimum of 3 days. Clinical compliance was defined as the number of participants who were compliant with all measures while also having adequate glucose recordings using either a CGM, insulin pump, or on the diet log. Feasibility was defined as >50% of the total sample reaching clinical compliance. Results: A total of 57 children and teenagers between the ages of 7 and 19 agreed to participate in this study and were included in the final analysis. Chi-square results indicated significant compliance for activity tracking (p < 0.001), diet logs (p = 0.04), and overall clinical compliance (p = 0.04). Conclusion: More than half the children in this study were compliant for both activity monitoring and diet logs. This indicates that it is feasible for children with T1D to wear a consumer-based activity monitor while also recording their diet for a minimum of three days.

Adherence to physical activity recommendations and barriers to physical activity participation among adults with type 1 diabetes

Background

Physical activity (PA) is important for those with type 1 diabetes (T1DM); however, accurate information on PA in people with T1DM is limited.

Aims

This study assessed adherence to PA guidelines using both objective and subjective PA measures and evaluated the relationship between accelerometer-measured PA and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Barriers to PA were also assessed.

Methods

Using an observational cross-sectional design, PA was measured objectively over 7 days in 72 participants (34 males) using an accelerometer (ActiGraph) and subjectively using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Perceived barriers to PA were assessed using the Barriers to Physical Activity in Diabetes (type 1) scale. Multiple linear regression models assessed the influence of PA on HbA1c and CVD risk factors.

Results

Mean age ± SD was 40.9 ± 12.9 years, diabetes duration was 18 ± 11.6 years, and HbA1c was 65 ± 14 mmol/mol /8.0 ± 1.3%. Twenty-three (32%) participants exercised according to PA recommendations as measured by an accelerometer. Sixty-nine (97%) participants reported meeting the recommendations as per the IPAQ. Those meeting recommendations (accelerometry) had a lower HbA1c (p = 0.001), BMI (p = 0.032), waist circumference (p = 0.006), and fat mass (p = 0.032) and a greater number of hypoglycaemic events (p = 0.004). Fear of hypoglycaemia was the strongest barrier to PA (mean 3.4 ± 2.0).

Conclusion

The majority of participants failed to meet PA recommendations. Meeting the recommendations was associated with healthier CVD risk factor profiles. Individuals with T1DM possibly overestimate their PA using self-reported measures and require support and education to safely improve activity levels.

Characteristics of Selected Somatic and Motor Abilities of Youth Soccer Players with Diabetes Type 1 Treated with Insulin Pump Therapy

Long-term insulin treatment can slow the growth process and decrease physical fitness level in children. In diabetic children, these two developments should be constantly monitored. The aim of the present study was to examine differences in somatic and physical fitness characteristics between soccer-training boys with type 1 diabetes and healthy boys of the same age (reference values based on Polish population norms for somatic and motor parameters). The participants were 94 boys (8–17 years), diagnosed with diabetes, who participated in soccer training on a regular basis and received routine medical care. The study involved (a) anthropometric and body composition measurements, (b) general motor ability assessments, and (c) comparison of those characteristics with the healthy Polish population. The diabetic boys were found to have lower levels of almost all somatic traits and motor abilities as compared with the healthy boys (p ≤ 0.05). Handgrip strength was a variable with the smallest difference between the two groups. The observed differences indicate the necessity to design an appropriate control and assessment system based on simple medical and fitness field tests for diabetic children and adolescents. It will allow optimizing advanced training as well as minimize health risks before, during, or after exercise.

Separating insulin-mediated and non-insulin-mediated glucose uptake during and after aerobic exercise in type 1 diabetes

Aerobic exercise in type 1 diabetes (T1D) causes rapid increase in glucose utilization due to muscle work during exercise, followed by increased insulin sensitivity after exercise. Better understanding of these changes is necessary for models of exercise in T1D. Twenty-six individuals with T1D underwent three sessions at three insulin rates (100%, 150%, 300% of basal). After 3-h run-in, participants performed 45 min aerobic exercise (moderate or intense). We determined area under the curve for endogenous glucose production (AUC_EGP) and rate of glucose disappearance (AUC_Rd) over 45 min from exercise start. A novel application of linear regression of R_d across the three insulin sessions allowed separation of insulin-mediated from non-insulin-mediated glucose uptake before, during, and after exercise. AUC_Rd increased 12.45 mmol/L (CI = 10.33-14.58, P < 0.001) and 13.13 mmol/L (CI = 11.01-15.26, P < 0.001) whereas AUC_EGP increased 1.66 mmol/L (CI = 1.01-2.31, P < 0.001) and 3.46 mmol/L (CI = 2.81-4.11, P < 0.001) above baseline during moderate and intense exercise, respectively. AUC_EGP increased during intense exercise by 2.14 mmol/L (CI = 0.91-3.37, P < 0.001) compared with moderate exercise. There was significant effect of insulin infusion rate on AUC_Rd equal to 0.06 mmol/L per % above basal rate (CI = 0.05-0.07, P < 0.001). Insulin-mediated glucose uptake rose during exercise and persisted hours afterward, whereas non-insulin-mediated effect was limited to the exercise period. To our knowledge, this method of isolating dynamic insulin- and non-insulin-mediated uptake has not been previously employed during exercise. These results will be useful in informing glucoregulatory models of T1D. The study has been registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03090451.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Separating insulin and non-insulin glucose uptake dynamically during exercise in type 1 diabetes has not been done before. We use a multistep process, including a previously described linear regression method, over three insulin infusion sessions, to perform this separation and can graph these components before, during, and after exercise for the first time.

Vigorous Physical Activity Is Associated With Better Glycated Hemoglobin and Lower Fear of Hypoglycemia Scores in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes: A 2-Year Follow-Up Study

To correlate glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fear of hypoglycemia scores with physical activity (PA) levels in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) over a period of 2 years. Twenty-eight children and 33 adolescents with T1D have been assessed for their PA profile. Personal and medical data for the patients were collected at baseline (visit 0: V0), 1 year later (V1), and 2 years later (V2). At baseline, children with T1D engaged in less moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) (p < 0.01) per day than adolescents. These results did not differ across visits. On the contrary, adolescents spent fewer time in vigorous physical activity (VPA) (p < 0.01) than children did (p < 0.01). Fear of hypoglycemia scores correlated significantly with VPA levels (β = −0.41, p = 0.03; β = −0.44, p = 0.06; β = −0.61, p = 0.001). For HbA1c (%), significant correlations were reported with VPA levels (β = −0.54, p = 0.02; β = −0.47, p = 0.03; β = −0.62, p = 0.01) across visits. Body mass index percentile correlated with total screen time (β = 0.28, p = 0.02; β = 0.29, p = 0.01; β = 0.31, p = 0.04) and overall PA levels (β = −0.52, p = 0.02; β = −0.42, p = 0.03; β = −0.42, p = 0.01). Performing more vigorous PA a day is associated with better HbA1c with lower perceived fear of hypoglycemia among youth with T1D. Therefore, dedicating more time in VPA may be an appropriate advice for patients with T1D.

A qualitative synthesis of the perceived factors that affect participation in physical activity among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes

AIMS

To explore the qualitative literature on the perceived factors, positive and negative, affecting participation by children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in physical activity, from the perspective of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, their family members, teachers or sports coaches, and healthcare professionals.

METHODS

MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Scopus were systematically searched in July 2019. Eligible studies included any that reported qualitative findings on the perceived factors that affect participation in physical activity from either the perspective of children or adolescents with type 1 diabetes, their family members, teachers or coaches, and healthcare professionals.

RESULTS

The literature search yielded a total of 7859 studies, of which 14 (13 qualitative studies and one mixed-methods study) met the review inclusion criteria. In total there were 12 unique populations containing 270 individuals, 105 children or adolescents with type 1 diabetes,108 family members, 37 teachers and 20 healthcare professionals. The main factors thought to influence physical activity for this population were the individual characteristics of children and adolescents, the requirement for self-blood glucose regulation, support systems including friends, family, teachers and professionals, education and knowledge, and communication.

CONCLUSIONS

This review synthesizes views on the perceived factors from several different perspectives. The findings suggest that it is important to consider the needs of the wider support network, as well as the child's or adolescent's concerns and preferences, when developing new or existing strategies and programmes to promote physical activity in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Identifying sources of support and barriers to physical activity in pediatric type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVES

Reports suggest that children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) perform less than the recommended daily activity and are less active than their non-diabetic peers. We aimed to: (a) Identify barriers and sources of support for exercise performance in pediatric T1D. (b) Identify strengths and limitations in the exercise-directed education provided by our diabetes team.

METHODS

Patients with T1D 5 to 20 years of age were recruited while attending a routine clinic visit. Participants completed a set of questionnaires assessing demographics, health data, barriers, and sources of support for exercise performance and diabetes related exercise education. The clinics' medical staff filled-out a questionnaire assessing the exercise-directed education provided in clinic.

RESULTS

Ninety-six subjects were included in this study, mean age 13.7 ± 3.8 years. Median weekly reported exercise time was 3.5 hours. The two most prevalent barriers were fear of hypoglycemia and low fitness, reported by 76% and 51%, respectively. Mean family and social support scores were 4.1 ± 0.7 and 3.3 ± 1.1, respectively (1-5 scale); the latter correlated with the amount of activity performed (cc = 0.360; P < .001). The majority of participants (97%) reported receiving guidance for physical activity, to their satisfaction. Yet, knowledge and implementation were suboptimal. All staff members reported conducting routine exercise-directed teaching, with variations in frequency and content.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that in order to increase the amount of safely performed exercise in pediatric patients with T1D, fear of hypoglycemia must be addressed. Further efforts should focus on: (a) encouraging active family and social involvement (b) standardization of education.

Artificial Pancreas Systems and Physical Activity in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes: Challenges, Adopted Approaches, and Future Perspectives

Physical activity is important for patients living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) but limited by the challenges associated with physical activity induced glucose variability. Optimizing glycemic control without increasing the risk of hypoglycemia is still a hurdle despite many advances in insulin formulations, delivery methods, and continuous glucose monitoring systems. In this respect, the artificial pancreas (AP) system is a promising therapeutic option for a safer practice of physical activity in the context of T1D. It is important that healthcare professionals as well as patients acquire the necessary knowledge about how the AP system works, its limits, and how glucose control is regulated during physical activity. This review aims to examine the current state of knowledge on exercise-related glucose variations especially hypoglycemic risk in T1D and to discuss their effects on the use and development of AP systems. Though effective and highly promising, these systems warrant further research for an optimized use around exercise.

Perceived barriers to and facilitators of physical activity in people with knee osteoarthritis: Development of the Evaluation of the Perception of Physical Activity questionnaire

BACKGROUND

The physical activity (PA) level of individuals with knee osteoarthritis is lower than in the general population. International recommendations recommend a non-pharmacological intervention including a self-management education program, weight loss and an adapted exercise program. However, we have no scale assessing the perceived barriers to and facilitators of PA in this population.

OBJECTIVE

We constructed and validated a self-administered questionnaire assessing perceived barriers to and facilitators of regular practice of PA in people with knee osteoarthritis.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews identified 24 barriers and facilitators. We developed a 24-item questionnaire, Evaluation of the Perception of Physical Activity (EPPA) that was completed by 548 individuals with knee osteoarthritis, to assess acceptability, construct validity, internal consistency and convergent validity. Participants also completed the Knee Osteoarthritis Fears and Beliefs Questionnaire (KOFBeQ), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Reliability and sensitivity to change were evaluated in a second group of 168 people with knee osteoarthritis at a 3-week spa therapy resort.

RESULTS

Factorial analysis identified 17 items grouped into 4 subscales (Barriers, Facilitators, Motivation and Beliefs). The internal consistency was good for Barriers, Facilitators and Motivation subscales (Cronbach α>0.70) and intermediate for the Beliefs subscale (Cronbach α=0.64). The EPPA subscale scores were significantly correlated with KOFBeQ and WOMAC scores but not associated with IPAQ physical activity level. Reliability was good for all subscales, with intraclass correlation coefficients>0.60. A sensitivity to change was found for only the Beliefs subscale, with a moderate effect size.

CONCLUSIONS

The EPPA questionnaire has good psychometric properties and can help guide the management of knee osteoarthritis. It can be used in research for evaluating the perception of physical activity.

Predicting Nocturnal Hypoglycemia with Measures of Physical Activity Intensity in Adolescent Athletes with Type 1 Diabetes

For someone managing type 1 diabetes, understanding their body's glucose response to physical activity could aid in effectively addressing nocturnal hypoglycemia. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the acute temporal associations between blood glucose and measures of moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) through an accelerometer. Ten adolescent athletes with type 1 diabetes wore an accelerometer and continuous glucose monitor (CGM) consecutively for a minimum of 2 weeks. Physical activity was analyzed according to intensity indicating time spent in light, moderate, and vigorous intensities. Hypoglycemic episodes were defined as two successive CGM readings <70 mg/dL, at 5-min intervals, with an episode ending with at least two CGM readings >70 mg/dL. Incidence of nocturnal hypoglycemia occurred during 29% of the nights measured with an average duration of 52.33 ± 41.04 min. When combining total minutes of moderate and vigorous intensities a significant difference was observed between combined MVPA and number of nocturnal hypoglycemic episodes (62.92 min vs. 49 episodes, P = 0.02). Moderate intensity activity alone was not significant in predicting hypoglycemic events or duration. Vigorous intensity physical activity was a significant predictor of nocturnal hypoglycemia after controlling for sedentary and light intensity minutes, age, and gender (β = 0.21, P = 0.01) with an average time of 26 min of vigorous intensity. Engaging in vigorous intensity physical activity increased the risk of prolonged nocturnal hypoglycemia in adolescent athletes with type 1 diabetes. Incorporating accelerometers into patient care could prove beneficial when making further recommendations for athletes.

Exercise Management for Young People With Type 1 Diabetes: A Structured Approach to the Exercise Consultation

Regular physical activity during childhood is important for optimal physical and psychological development. For individuals with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), physical activity offers many health benefits including improved glycemic control, cardiovascular function, blood lipid profiles, and psychological well-being. Despite these benefits, many young people with T1D do not meet physical activity recommendations. Barriers to engaging in a physically active lifestyle include fear of hypoglycemia, as well as insufficient knowledge in managing diabetes around exercise in both individuals and health care professionals. Diabetes and exercise management is complex, and many factors can influence an individual's glycemic response to exercise including exercise related factors (such as type, intensity and duration of the activity) and person specific factors (amount of insulin on board, person's stress/anxiety and fitness levels). International guidelines provide recommendations for clinical practice, however a gap remains in how to apply these guidelines to a pediatric exercise consultation. Consequently, it can be challenging for health care practitioners to advise young people with T1D how to approach exercise management in a busy clinic setting. This review provides a structured approach to the child/adolescent exercise consultation, based on a framework of questions, to assist the health care professional in formulating person-specific exercise management plans for young people with T1D.

Advances in Closed-Loop Insulin Delivery Systems in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes

To provide a current review of closed-loop insulin delivery or artificial pancreas (AP) as therapy for people with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) RECENT FINDINGS: The Medtronic Minimed 670G AP system has been in use in clinical practice since March 2017. Currently, Medtronic is conducting a large randomized clinical trial to evaluate its efficacy further in T1D. Simultaneously, the NIH has funded four research consortia to accelerate progress to approval of other AP and decision support systems. Several research groups are currently developing next-generation AP systems, with a number of companies moving toward releasing closed-loop systems in the future. AP systems are also being tested in select populations such as hypoglycemia-unaware T1D and pregnant T1D. AP research is rapidly advancing. The clinical range of AP will be expanded in the next decade.

Physical activity and autoimmune diseases: Get moving and manage the disease

Physical activity, by definition, is any skeletal muscle body movement that results in energy expenditure. In the last few decades, a plethora of scientific evidences have accumulated and confirmed the beneficial role of physical activity as a modifiable risk factor for a wide variety of chronic diseases including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), diabetes mellitus and cancer, among others. Autoimmune diseases are a heterogeneous group of chronic diseases, which occur secondary to loss of self-antigen tolerance. With the advent of biological therapies, better outcomes have recently been noted in the management of autoimmune diseases. Nonetheless, recent research highlights the salient role of modifiable behaviors such as physical inactivity on various aspects of the immune system and autoimmune diseases. Physical activity leads to a significant elevation in T-regulatory cells, decreased immunoglobulin secretion and produces a shift in the Th1/Th2 balance to a decreased Th1 cell production. Moreover, physical activity has been proven to promote the release of IL-6 from muscles. IL-6 released from muscles functions as a myokine and has been shown to induce an anti-inflammatory response through IL-10 secretion and IL-1β inhibition. Physical activity has been shown to be safe in most of autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis (MS), inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), as well as others. Additionally, the incidence of RA, MS, IBD and psoriasis has been found to be higher in patients less engaged in physical activity. As a general trend, patients with autoimmune diseases tend to be less physically active as compared to the general population. Physically active RA patients were found to have a milder disease course, better cardiovascular disease (CVD) profile, and improved joint mobility. Physical activity decreases fatigue, enhances mood, cognitive abilities and mobility in patients with MS. In SLE patients, enhanced quality of life and better CVD profile were documented in more physically active patients. Physically active patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus have a decreased risk of autonomic neuropathy and CVD. Both fibromyalgia and systemic sclerosis patients report decreased disease severity, pain, as well as better quality of life with more physical activity. Further, SSc patients improve their grip strength, finger stretching and mouth opening with increased level of exercise. The purpose of this paper is to review the clinical evidence regarding the safety, barriers to engagement, and impact of physical activity on autoimmune diseases.

The Effects of Basal Insulin Suspension at the Start of Exercise on Blood Glucose Levels During Continuous Versus Circuit-Based Exercise in Individuals with Type 1 Diabetes on Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion

BACKGROUND

Exercise causes glycemic disturbances in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Continuous moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (CON) generally lowers blood glucose (BG) levels and often leads to hypoglycemia. In comparison, circuit-based exercise (CIRC) may attenuate the drop in BG. The goal of this study is to contrast the effects of basal insulin suspension at the onset of two different forms of exercise (CON vs. CIRC).

METHODS

Twelve individuals (six men and six women) with T1D on insulin pump therapy were recruited for the study. All participants completed a maximal aerobic fitness test and two 40-min exercise sessions, consisting of either continuous treadmill walking or a circuit workout. Basal insulin infusion was stopped at the onset of exercise and resumed in recovery. After providing an initial reference value, volunteers were blinded to their [BG] and were asked to estimate their levels during exercise.

RESULTS

Oxygen consumption (47.5 ± 7.5 vs. 54.5 ± 13.5 mL·kg^-1·min^-1, P = 0.03) and heart rate (122 ± 20 vs. 144 ± 20 bpm, P = 0.003) were lower in CON vs. CIRC. Despite the lower workload, BG levels dropped more with CON vs. CIRC (delta BG = -3.8 ± 1.5 vs. -0.5 ± 3.0 mmol/L for CON vs. CIRC, respectively, P = 0.001). Participants were able to estimate their BG more accurately during CON (r = 0.83) vs. CIRC (r = 0.33) based on a regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

Despite a lower intensity of exercise, with full basal insulin suspension at the start of exercise, CON results in a larger drop in BG vs. CIRC. These findings have implications for single hormone-based artificial pancreas development for exercise. While this study does not negate the importance of frequent capillary BG monitoring during exercise, it does suggest that if persons are knowledgeable about their pre-exercise BG levels, they can accurately perceive the changes in BG during CON, but not during CIRC.

Physical activity and sedentary behavior levels in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes using insulin pump or injection therapy - The importance of parental activity profile

In children and adolescents, treatments for type 1 diabetes (T1D) have recently evolved with the introduction of the insulin pump. However, little is known about how a pump is associated with physical activity (PA) patterns. The goal of the study was to examine the activity profile of Canadian children and adolescents with T1D according to their insulin treatment (pump vs. injections), as well as barriers to exercise and parental lifestyle habits. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 188 subjects with T1D aged 6 to 17 and their parents at the endocrinology clinic of Sainte-Justine's University Hospital Center (Montreal, Canada). Sixty percent of patients used an insulin pump. There were no significant differences in any components of the PA profile, sedentary habits, and exercise barriers between subjects using injections and those using a pump. Fear of hypoglycemia was the main PA barrier in both treatment groups. A more diverse PA practice by parents was associated with more moderate-to-vigorous PA and less screen time in adolescents. In conclusion, type of treatment was not associated with more activity in pediatric patients with T1D and a varied parental PA profile was the main factor of interest for healthier habits in adolescents with T1D.

Evaluation of glucose control when a new strategy of increased carbohydrate supply is implemented during prolonged physical exercise in type 1 diabetes

PURPOSE

In healthy individuals, high carbohydrate intake is recommended during prolonged exercise for maximum performance. In type 1 diabetes (T1D), this would alter the insulin requirements. The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety of high glucose supplementation during prolonged exercise and the glucose control when a novel strategy of increased carbohydrate supply was implemented during prolonged exercise in T1D.

METHODS

Eight subjects with T1D participated in a sports camp including sessions of prolonged exercise and individualized feedback during three consecutive days. This was later followed by a 90 km cross-country skiing race. Large amounts of carbohydrates, 75 g/h, were supplied during exercise and the insulin requirements were registered. Glucose was measured before, during and after exercise aiming at euglycaemia, 4-8 mmol/L (72-144 mg/dL). During the race, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) was used as an aspect of safety and to allow direct and individual adjustments.

RESULTS

Compared to ordinary carbohydrate supply during exercise, the high carbohydrate supplementation resulted in significantly increased insulin doses to maintain euglycaemia. During the cross-country skiing race, the participants succeeded to reach mean target glucose levels; 6.5 ± 1.9 mmol/L (117 ± 34 mg/dL) and 5.7 ± 1.5 mmol/L (103 ± 27 mg/dL) at the start and finish of the race, respectively. Episodes of documented hypoglycemia (<4 mmol/L/72 mg/dL) were rare. CGM was used for adjustments.

CONCLUSION

In this study, large carbohydrate supplementation in T1D individuals during prolonged aerobic exercise is safe and allows the subjects to maintain glycaemic control and indicates the feasibility of CGM under these conditions.

Lifestyle and cardiometabolic risk in adults with type 1 diabetes: a review

Over the past decades, there has been a major upward shift in the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk (CMR) factors (central obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension and dyslipidemia) in patients with type 1 diabetes, which could have either an additive or a synergistic effect on risk for cardiovascular disease. These metabolic changes are occurring in parallel to the worldwide obesity epidemic and the widespread use of intensive insulin therapy. Poor lifestyle habits (poor diet quality, sedentary behaviours and smoking) are known to be driving factors for increased CMR factors in the general population. The objective of this review is to explore the lifestyle habits of adults with type 1 diabetes and its potential association with CMR factors. Evidence suggests that adherence to dietary guidelines is low in subjects with type 1 diabetes with a high prevalence of patients consuming an atherogenic diet. Sedentary habits are also more prevalent than in the general population, possibly because of the additional contribution of exercise-induced hypoglycemic fear. Moreover, the prevalence of smokers is still significant in the population with type 1 diabetes. All of these behaviours could trigger a cascade of metabolic anomalies that may contribute to increased CMR factors in patients with type 1 diabetes. The intensification of insulin treatment leading to new daily challenges (e.g. carbohydrates counting, increase of hypoglycemia) could contribute to the adoption of poor lifestyle habits. Preventive measures, such as identification of patients at high risk and promotion of lifestyle changes, should be encouraged. The most appropriate therapeutic measures remain to be established.

A pilot program for physical exercise promotion in adults with type 1 diabetes: the PEP-1 program

Physical inactivity is highly common in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) as specific barriers (i.e., hypoglycemia) may prevent them from being active. The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of the Physical Exercise Promotion program in type 1 diabetes (PEP-1) program, a group program of physical activity (PA) promotion (intervention) compared with an information leaflet (control), to improve total energy expenditure (TEE) in adults with T1D after 12 weeks. TEE was measured with a motion sensor over a 7-day period at inclusion, after the program (12 weeks) and 1-year after inclusion. The 12 weekly sessions of the program included a 30-min information session (glycemic control and PA) and 60 min of PA. A total of 48 adults, aged 18 to 65 years with a reported PA practice <150 min per week, were recruited (45.8% men; aged 44.6 ± 13.3 years; 8.0% ± 1.1% glycated hemoglobin (A1c)) and randomized in this pilot trial. Ninety percent of participants completed the program and 88% completed the 1-year follow-up. No change was observed for TEE and A1c in both groups. After the 12-week program, the mean peak oxygen uptake increased (14%; p = 0.003) in the intervention group; however, at the 1-year follow-up, it was no longer different from baseline. In the control group, no difference was observed for the peak oxygen uptake. These results suggest that the PEP-1 pilot program could increase cardiorespiratory fitness. However, this benefit is not sustained over a long-term period. The PEP-1 program did not increase TEE in patients with T1D and other strategies remain necessary to counteract physical inactivity in this population.

The role of resistance and aerobic exercise training on insulin sensitivity measures in STZ-induced Type 1 diabetic rodents

Individuals with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) can develop insulin resistance. Regular exercise may improve insulin resistance partially through increased expression of skeletal muscle GLUT4 content.

OBJECTIVE

To examine if different exercise training modalities can alter glucose tolerance through changes in skeletal muscle GLUT4 content in T1DM rats.

METHODS

Fifty rats were divided into 5 groups; control, diabetic control, diabetic resistance exercised, and diabetic high and low intensity treadmill exercised. Diabetes was induced using multiple low dose Streptozotocin (20 mg/kg/day) injections and blood glucose concentrations were maintained moderately hyperglycemic through subcutaneous insulin pellets. Resistance trained rats climbed a ladder with incremental loads, while treadmill trained rats ran on a treadmill at 27 or 15 m/min, respectively, all for 6 weeks.

RESULTS

At weeks 3 and 6, area under the curve measurements following an intravenous glucose tolerance test (AUC-IVGTT) in all diabetic groups were higher than control rats (p<0.05). At 6 weeks, all exercise groups had significantly lower AUC-IVGTT values than diabetic control animals (p<0.05). Treadmill trained rats had the lowest insulin dose requirement of the T1DM rats and the greatest reduction in insulin dosage was evident in high intensity treadmill exercise. Concomitant with improvements in glucose handling improvements, tissue-specific elevations in GLUT4 content were demonstrated in both red and white portions of vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius muscles, suggesting that glucose handling capacity was altered in the skeletal muscle of exercised T1DM rats.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that, while all exercise modalities can improve glucose tolerance, each mode leads to differential improvements in insulin requirements and protein content alterations.