Abstract

ANDRADE, Rudinei; LAITANO, Orlando  and  MEYER, Flávia. Effect of hydration with carbohydrates on the glycemic response in type I diabetics during exercise. Rev Bras Med Esporte [online]. 2005, vol.11, n.1, pp. 61-65. ISSN 1517-8692.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1517-86922005000100007.

It is not clear whether the carbohydrate (CHO) ingestion through sports drinks can maintain blood glucose concentrations in type I diabetics. The objective of this study was to examine blood glucose concentrations in adolescents with type I diabetics who ingest a sport drink with 6% CHO during and after exercise. Ten (5 males and 5 females) adolescents (15.3 ± 2.4 years) with a well-controlled type 1 diabetics (HbA_1C < 12%), and without complications of the disease, cycled at 55-60% of their peak VO₂ during 60 minutes in two separate days. In a randomized order and double-blinded design, subjects ingested (5 ml· kg¹ prior to exercise, and 2 ml· kg¹ every 15 minutes of exercise) a sport drink with 6% CHO (CHO-6%) or a flavored water without CHO (placebo) with similar color and taste as the sport drink. After one hour of exercise, blood glucose concentrations in the CHO-6% situation did not decrease significantly (221.0 ± 78 to 200.5 ± 111mg· dL^-1, p > 0.05) as it did in the placebo situation (282.9 ± 85.1 to 160.2 ± 77.0 mg· dL^-1, p < 0,05) (9 vs 43.2%). After 30 min of recovery, blood glucose concentrations were 177.2 ± 107 mg·dL^-1 with CHO-6% and 149.1 ± 69.6 mg·dL^-1 in the placebo situation, representing 20.1% and 47.3% of pre-exercise levels. No significant differences between situations were found in heart rate, rate of perceived exertion or in blood insulin and electrolytes levels. No changes in hematocrit and hemoglobin were found during exercise, indicating that subjects remained euhydrated. In conclusion, the use of drinks containing 6% of CHO was shown to attenuate the exercise-induced reduction of blood glucose concentration in adolescents with type I diabetes.

Keywords : Diabetes; Sports drinks; Hypoglycemia.