Glucose ingestion matched with total carbohydrate utilization attenuates hypoglycemia during exercise in adolescents with IDDM

There are currently no guidelines regarding the carbohydrate (CHO) dosage r equired to prevent exercise-induced hypoglycemia in children with insulin-d ependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). To prevent hypoglycemia by matching gluc ose ingestion with total-CHO utilization, 20 adolescents with IDDM attended 2 trials: control(CT; drinking water) and glucose (GT; drinking 6-8% gluco se). Participants performed 60 min of moderate-intensity cycling 100 min af ter insulin injection and breakfast. CT's total-CHO utilization during exer cise was determined using indirect calorimetry. In GT, participants ingeste d glucose in the amount equal to total CHO utilization in the CT. A total o f 9 participants had BG <4.0 mmol/L in CT compared to 3 in GT (p<.05). In c onclusion, glucose ingestion equal to total-CHO utilization attenuates the drop in blood glucose and reduces the Likelihood of hypoglycemia during exe rcise in adolescents with IDDM.