New York Times: Ask Questions About Type 1 and Exercise

[Zach]

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/29/ask-questions-about-type-1-and-exercise/?hp


JUNE 29, 2009, 6:02 PM
Ask Questions About Type 1 and Exercise

By TARA PARKER-POPE

In today’s Well column, I write about the amazing accomplishments of Team Type 1, a cycling team comprised of athletes with Type 1 diabetes that just won the 3,000-mile Race Across America. After writing about the team, several readers asked specific questions about how the riders managed exercise and insulin needs.

As a result, I’ve invited two experts to answer your questions about Type 1 and exercise –and anything else you might want to know about diabetes. Answering your questions this week will be:

Dr. Robin Goland, director of the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Goland, associate professor of medicine at Columbia, also leads a clinical research program in diabetes. Dr. Goland has a B.A. from Harvard University and an M.D. from Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons. She also regularly treats several patients who are marathoners and triathletes.

Phil Southerland, a founder of Team Type 1 cycling. Mr. Southerland, 27, was diagnosed with Type 1 at 7 months of age and is now a competitive cyclist and marathoner, and has twice competed in the Race Across America.

Read the full story, “A 3,000-Mile Triumph, Spurred On by Diabetes.” And then, please send your questions about Type 1, exercise or any other diabetes-related issue. We’ll do our best to answer them directly in the comments section below, as quickly as possible, so please keeping checking back over the next few days.

Scroll through all the comments to see questions answered in bold faced type. Or click on the following links to see the questions we’ve answered so far.

Does it ever get it easier to manage Type 1 and exercise?

Are there any tricks to avoiding or managing a post-exercise spike in blood sugar?

Do you have any advice for managing a pump during exercise?

Is it easier to balance athletics and Type 1 if you are diagnosed as a baby, rather than at the age of 10 or 12?

How do you deal with unpredictable blood sugar during predictable workouts? And how do you deal with unsupportive friends?

Do most athletes with Type 1 use insulin pumps?