Exercise and Type 2 Diabetes

Pediatrics published a systemic research review of a quantitative estimate of the effectiveness of exercise training on fasting insulin and insulin resistance in children and adolescents.

The following results were reported:

• a small to moderate effect was found for exercise training on fasting insulin and improving insulin resistance in youth.

The researchers concluded that the results support the use of exercise training in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Reference:  Michael V. Fedewa, Nicholas H. Gist, Ellen M. Evans,and Rod K. Dishman. Exercise and Insulin Resistance in Youth: A Meta-Analysis Pediatrics 2014; 133:1 e163-e174; published ahead of print December 2, 2013, doi:10.1542/peds.2013-2718

Type 1 Diabetes and Fine Motor Skills

A recent study in Pediatric Diabetes examined the neurocognitive functioning of 68 preschool children, 36 with Type 1 diabetes and 32 without any chronic illness. The two groups were administered a number of tools to assess cognitive, language and fine motor skills. The results indicated that the children in both groups performed similarly with skills in the average range. The children with Type 1 diabetes with poor glycemic control scored lower on cognitive skills and receptive language and had slower fine motor speed.

Reference: Patiño-Fernández AM et al. Neurocognitive functioning in preschool-age children with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Pediatr Diabetes. 2010 Sep;11(6):424-30. Epub 2010 Apr 23

Activity Levels and Electronic Media Use of Youth with Diabetes

Pediatrics published research on the physical activity levels and electronic media use for 384 children with Type 1 diabetes, 90 children with Type 2 diabetes and 173 control subjects ranging in age from 10 to 20 years old. The results indicated that male subjects with Type 2 diabetes reported lower levels of vigorous physical activity per day than the control subjects. Youth with type 1 diabetes compliance to the recommended physical activity levels (more than 60 minutes per day) was 68.3%. In comparison, the youth with type 2 diabetes were 81.7% compliant and the control group was 80.4% compliant. The rates of compliance for daily electronic media use (less than 2 hours per day) ranged from 29.5% to 49.1%.

Reference: Lobelo, Felipe, Liese, Angela D., Liu, Jihong, Mayer-Davis, Elizabeth J., D'Agostino, Ralph B., Jr, Pate, Russell R., Hamman, Richard F., Dabelea, Dana
Physical Activity and Electronic Media Use in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Case-Control Study
Pediatrics 2010 125: e1364-e1371

Physical Education and Section 504 or IEP's

There was an interesting news story this week in the Philideplphia Inquirer. A sixth grade boy with diabetes and his parents are requesting daily physical education under Section 504. The parents say that the daily exercise of physical education have helped their son "to maintain his health and alertness" to participate in school. The school has turned down daily physical education and offered other suggestions to increase daily physical activity for the student. This issue is going to a due process hearing.

Please take a minute to vote on this issue at the poll on the right hand side of this blog. Should physical education be mandated on a Section 504 or IEP for a student with a disability?

If a similar issue has occurred in your district please comment below.

Need some ideas in your district to encourage movement and diabetes prevention? Download this free guide from the National Diabetes Education Program.