There is evidence that exercising or being immersed in cool or warm water might increase the rate of fall in the blood glucose level of people with type 1 diabetes.
Water-based activities at the beach or in swimming pools are very popular in Australia. Unfortunately, there is some indirect evidence that standing still or exercising in cool or warm water might increase the rate of fall in blood glucose levels in people with type 1 diabetes. Whether this is the case or not has never been examined.
This University of Western Australia study, being conducted by a PhD student who is working with the Children's Diabetes Centre, aims to determine for the first time whether head out of water immersion or water-based exercise affects blood glucose levels in people with type 1 diabetes. Our findings may help with the development of improved recommendations for hypoglycaemia prevention for people with type 1 diabetes who engage in water-based activities.
To be eligible for the study, participants must be:
- Adolescents or adults aged between 15-40 years
- Have had type 1 diabetes for more than a year
- HbA1c levels below 8%
- Proficient swimmers with no prior regular cold water exposure or involvement in any cold acclimatisation regimen
If you are interested in participating in this study, contact Kristina Abramoff via Kristina.abramoff@research.uwa.edu.au or 0431 145 703.
First published Tuesday 1 September 2020.