Having diabetes affects a child’s life in many ways. However, young people with diabetes can be as physically active as their nondiabetic peers. With proper planning and preparation, regular physical activity is an essential component in the management of diabetes.

Most diabetic children have type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disorder that destroys the insulin-making cells of the pancreas. Insulin is a hormone that the body needs to use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. Excess weight has traditionally not been considered a factor in the development of type 1 diabetes, but recent research suggests that obesity may cause an earlier onset. In addition, patients with type 1 diabetes who are sedentary and gain weight can develop insulin resistance and double diabetes.

With the growing incidence of childhood obesity, an increasing number of children and teens have prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, metabolic disorders that are strongly associated with excess weight, abdominal fat and insulin resistance. Other forms of pediatric diabetes include secondary diabetes, which is due to another condition such as cystic fibrosis or Down syndrome, and maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY).

Regular exercise helps children with diabetes:

• Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
• Control glucose and prevent hyperglycemia
• Avert or lower insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia
• Improve cholesterol levels
• Reduce high blood pressure
• Enhance cardiovascular functioning

Exercise also may help prevent or delay the need for antidiabetic agents in children with type 2 diabetes, and may allow for a lower dosage of insulin for patients who require insulin therapy, according to a physician’s recommendations. 

Physical activity also plays a key role in delaying or preventing type 2 diabetes in children. Children can reduce the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes by incorporating just 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity into their daily routine. Additionally, regular exercise can help all children:

• Improve sleep and reduce fatigue
• Reduce stress
• Improve coordination and flexibility
• Eliminate boredom
• Boost self-esteem
• Increase socialization
• Establish positive lifelong habits that reduce the risk of health problems in adulthood, ranging from cancer to sexual dysfunction