Abstract

The insulin-dependent diabetic runner must continually juggle insulin, food intake, and activity to keep blood sugar within the proper range and thus perform at maximum efficiency. To do this requires attention to a number of variables, among them: Monitoring blood sugar levels several times a day, using urin alysis or blood analysis. The bound hemoglobin technique also may be used to gauge serum glucose over a period of weeks. Increasing insulin dosage to allow for normal food intake during the precompetition days, when runners usually decrease training. This also helps the diabetic store extra glycogen. Reducing insulin dosage, if necessary, on the day of a longdistance competitive run, particularly for diabetics who mix quick- and long-acting insulin. Injecting insulin into an area of low metabolic activity, such as theabdomen, to retard the drugs absorption. Consuming sugar (hard candy, for example) every 15 or 20 minutes during a long run. This helps prevent glycogendepletion and hypoglycemia. Taking water freely, perhaps with a diluted glucose solution (less than 2.5 gm/100ml water) to prevent heat exhaustion and hypoglycemia. Verf.-Referat (gekuerzt)