About this Research Topic

Background

Physical activity represents a crucial aspect of type 1 diabetes management. Exercise is associated with multiple health benefits, including improvements in cardiovascular fitness, glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, blood lipid profiles, as well as mental health. However, managing type 1 diabetes around exercise can pose considerable challenges as exercise can lead to dramatic fluctuations in blood glucose levels. Glycemic management during physical activity is impacted by several factors, such as the timing, intensity, and duration of exercise, initial glucose levels, meal consumption, and insulin dosing. Additionally, individuals with type 1 diabetes can have varied responses to physical activity, leading to increased challenges around safe exercise.

Although exercise is essential for improving overall health, individuals with type 1 diabetes are at heightened risk for developing exercise-associated dysglycemia. To improve glucose control during exercise in people with type 1 diabetes, understanding how different physical activities can impact glycemia is essential. According to this, several guidelines exist for glycemic management during different types of exercise. In addition, the continued advancements in diabetes technology have facilitated the management of physical activity for individuals with type 1 diabetes. Despite clinical attention and technological progress, glycemic management in the context of exercise remains a burden for individuals with type 1 diabetes. To overcome this barrier to regular exercise, advanced and personalized strategies for managing physical activity, enhanced exercise-informed technology (e.g., automated insulin delivery algorithms and decision support systems), as well as educational interventions are promising tools that can be beneficial to individuals with type 1 diabetes.

Several barriers to physical activity and exercise exist for adolescents and adults with type 1 diabetes, including fear of hypoglycemia, loss of glycemic control, and inadequate knowledge around exercise management. This Research Topic aims to provide an up-to-date perspective on blood glucose management strategies around exercise (including professional and intensive sports) for individuals with type 1 diabetes, as well as to explore potential novel clinical and technological approaches for improving glycemic control during and after exercise. A wide range of topics will be covered by this Research Topic, including, but not limited to:

• Strategies for improving glycemic management around exercise in adolescents and adults with type 1 diabetes
• Technological advancements and algorithmic developments to help blood glucose management around exercise in type 1 diabetes
• Psychobehavioral barriers to regular exercise in individuals with type 1 diabetes
• Psychosocial and pyschobehavioral interventions to promote physical activity in individuals with type 1 diabetes.

This Research Topic welcomes the submission of original articles, comprehensive reviews, research report, as well as general commentary, opinion, and perspective manuscripts to address these ongoing challenges and technological advancements.





Conflict of interest declaration: Topic Editor Dessi Zaharieva has received speaking honoraria from Medtronic Diabetes, Ascensia Diabetes, Insulet, and the American Diabetes Association.

Keywords: type 1 diabetes, physical activity, exercise, hypoglycemia, insulin sensitivity, glucose management, insulin, glucagon, continuous glucose monitoring, insulin pump, automated insulin delivery, accelerometry, wearable devices, sport, nutrition

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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