Competitive sport and the insulin-dependent diabetic patient

A Brief Review on the Evolution of Technology in Exercise and Sport in Type 1 Diabetes: Past, Present, and Future

One hundred years ago, insulin was first used to successfully lower blood glucose levels in young people living with what was then called juvenile diabetes. While insulin was not a cure for diabetes, it allowed individuals to resume a near normal life and have some freedom to eat more liberally and gain the strength they needed to live a more active lifestyle. Since then, a number of therapeutic and technical advances have arisen to further improve the health and wellbeing of individuals living with type 1 diabetes, allowing many to participate in sport at the local, regional, national or international level of competition. This review and commentary highlights some of the key advances in diabetes management in sport over the last 100 years since the discovery of insulin.

Common medical problems in sports

This article reviews the most common medical problems encountered in the day-to-day care of athletes at all levels of competition. Common medical conditions affecting the pulmonary, gastrointestinal, urological, and endocrine systems are reviewed, as well as common infectious diseases. Review of environmental factors affecting athletes, including sleep disorders, travel, and exposure to the environment during athletic competition, are discussed.