Lower cardiorespiratory fitness in children with Type 1 diabetes

• Published in: Diabetic medicine Vol. 28; no. 8; pp. 1005 - 1007
• Main Authors: Williams, B. K., Guelfi, K. J., Jones, T. W., Davis, E. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.08.2011; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adolescent; aerobic fitness; Australia; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Child; Child, Preschool; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - physiopathology; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; exercise; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; glycaemic control; Heart Rate - physiology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Motor Activity - physiology; Physical Fitness - physiology; Risk Factors; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Australia; Endocrinopathy; Human; Physical exercise; Immunopathology; Obesity; Nutrition; Nutrition disorder; Cardiovascular disease; Autoimmune disease; Metabolic diseases; aerobic fitness; exercise; Respiratory system; Surveillance; Type 1 diabetes; Cardiovascular risk; glycaemic control; Circulatory system; Child; Endocrinology; Nutritional status; Glycemia; Fitness
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2011.03271.x
• ISSN: 0742-3071

Diabet. Med. 28, 1005–1007 (2011) Aims  The present study aimed to compare cardiorespiratory fitness levels in children with and without Type 1 diabetes. In addition, the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and a range of physical and clinical factors was investigated. Methods  Eighty‐eight children with Type 1 diabetes aged 5–14 years completed a submaximal step test of cardiorespiratory fitness. Sixty‐two of these children were successfully matched to control subjects without diabetes based on age, sex and anthropometrics for comparison. In addition, the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and a range of physical and clinical variables was assessed in the children with diabetes. Results  The heart rate response to exercise was higher in children with Type 1 diabetes, indicating reduced cardiorespiratory fitness levels compared with control subjects. Both gender and glycaemic control (HbA1c) were significantly associated with cardiorespiratory fitness, with female sex and poorer glycaemic control associated with reduced fitness. Conclusions  Future research should investigate whether the reduced fitness in children with Type 1 diabetes is attributable to lower physical activity levels, or physiological changes resulting from the diabetes pathology itself.