Regular physical activity is important and benefits people of all ages. It includes anything that gets your child/young person moving, including walking to and from school, running around the house or in the playground at school, chasing the dog, organised sports, or even helping with housework! It is not necessary to join a gym or buy expensive equipment at home.
Physical activity helps to:
It is important to encourage children/young people with diabetes to be active as part of their daily routine - at home, at school and at play, and also throughout adulthood. Physical activity should involve the whole family for both support and overall health benefits.
If your child is using insulin therapy, your local diabetes team will discuss with you all aspects of balancing blood glucose control, insulin dosage, carbohydrate intake and physical activity, in relation to hypoglycaemia. The care plan for certain types of physical activities may be different and your child will be given individualised guidelines regarding exercise.
Every activity counts!
The content on this page has been approved by the Clinical Network for Children and Young People with Diabetes, Paediatric Society of New Zealand.
This page last reviewed 01 May 2020.
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Links
[1] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/how-children-type-1-diabetes-can-exercise-safely
[2] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F2105