Children need to be active to stay fit and healthy as well as prevent medical problems as they grew up. However, in children with Type 1 diabetes, exercising can get a little bit tricky. Their glucose level could suddenly drop or rise and result in problems.

This doesn’t mean though that they won’t benefit from exercise. In fact, they are going to benefit greatly from having a regular exercise regimen. You just have to take proper precautions to prevent the sudden changes in their blood sugar levels.

#1 – Check Blood Sugar Levels

Before exercising, you need to check your child’s blood sugar levels. Do the checks before, during, and after exercising. This will help you gauge how your child’s blood glucose levels respond to physical activities.

It’s common for blood glucose levels to drop during physical activities, so extra carbohydrates should be given to your child before doing the exercises to prevent the sudden drop in levels. It’s also advisable to prepare his snacks and medications (glucose tablets) before the activity, so you have everything ready and nearby.

#2 – Raise Awareness

Having Type 1 diabetes should not prevent your child from participating in his gym classes in school. However, it’s important that you let his coach know about his medical condition and what to do in case something happens during the class.

#3 – Make the Exercises Fun

Not all children are into sports or enjoy doing routine exercise programs, so you have to make the physical activities fun for them. You can walk the dog with your child, jog around the block, go to the park to play ball, go swimming, or let him play outside the house with his friends.

The important thing to remember is that he has to stay active and fit. The more exercise he gets, the more sensitive his cells become to insulin, and the better his blood glucose levels will be.