The Effect of Starting Blood Glucose Levels on Serum Electrolyte Concentrations during and after Exercise in Type 1 Diabetes

Zeinab Momeni, Normand G. Boulé, Carla M. Prado, Heather A. Hinz and Jane E. Yardley ()
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Zeinab Momeni: Augustana Faculty, University of Alberta, 4901-46th Avenue, Camrose, AB T4V 2R3, Canada
Normand G. Boulé: Physical Activity and Diabetes Laboratory, Alberta Diabetes Institute, 112 Street, Edmonton, AB T6G 2T9, Canada
Carla M. Prado: Women’s and Children’s Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
Heather A. Hinz: Physical Activity and Diabetes Laboratory, Alberta Diabetes Institute, 112 Street, Edmonton, AB T6G 2T9, Canada
Jane E. Yardley: Augustana Faculty, University of Alberta, 4901-46th Avenue, Camrose, AB T4V 2R3, Canada

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-15

Abstract: Fear of hypoglycemia is a major exercise barrier for people with type 1 diabetes (PWT1D). Consequently, although guidelines recommend starting exercise with blood glucose (BG) concentration at 7–10 mmol/L, PWT1D often start higher, potentially affecting hydration and serum electrolyte concentrations. To test this, we examined serum and urine electrolyte concentrations during aerobic exercise (cycling 45 min at 60%VO 2 peak) in 12 PWT1D (10F/2M, mean ± SEM: age 29 ± 2.3 years, VO 2 peak 37.9 ± 2.2 mL·kg −1 ·min −1 ) with starting BG levels: 8–10 (MOD), and 12–14 (HI) mmol/L. Age, sex, and fitness-matched controls without diabetes (CON) completed one exercise session with BG in the normal physiological range. Serum glucose was significantly higher during exercise and recovery in HI versus MOD ( p = 0.0002 and p < 0.0001, respectively) and in MOD versus CON ( p < 0.0001). During exercise and recovery, MOD and HI were not significantly different in serum insulin ( p = 0.59 and p = 0.63), sodium ( p = 0.058 and p = 0.08), potassium ( p = 0.17 and p = 0.16), calcium ( p = 0.75 and 0.19), and magnesium p = 0.24 and p = 0.09). Our findings suggest that exercise of moderate intensity and duration with higher BG levels may not pose an immediate risk to hydration or serum electrolyte concentrations for PWT1D.

Keywords: blood glucose; exercise; type 1 diabetes; electrolytes; hydration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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