Sex-Related Differences in Blood Glucose Responses to Resistance Exercise in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: A Secondary Data Analysis.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES\nIn adults with type 1 diabetes, resistance exercise (RE) is associated with more stable blood glucose (BG) levels than aerobic exercise, both during and after exercise. In individuals without diabetes, growth hormone and epinephrine responses to RE differ between the sexes. These hormones are known to affect BG levels in individuals with type 1 diabetes. In this study, we explored whether sex-related differences may exist in BG responses to RE in individuals with type 1 diabetes.\n\n\nMETHODS\nA secondary data analysis was conducted on pooled data from 2 studies with identical RE protocols for individuals with type 1 diabetes (13 males, age range 16 to 63\xa0years; 10 females, age range 19 to 45\xa0years). The RE session consisted of 7 resistance-based exercises performed at 5 pm. Plasma glucose samples were collected before, immediately after and 1\xa0h after exercise. Interstitial glucose levels were recorded through blinded continuous glucose monitoring 24\xa0h before, during and 24\xa0h after exercise.\n\n\nRESULTS\nThere was a significant sex-by-time interaction (p<0.001) in plasma glucose responses to RE. Plasma glucose decreased significantly in males from 8.6±2.5 to 6.3±2.1\xa0mmol/L (p<0.001) during exercise, whereas females experienced no significant change (7.2±1.3 to 7.3±1.3\xa0mmol/L, p=0.999). In the 6\xa0h after RE, males developed significantly more hypoglycemia, as measured by continuous glucose monitoring (p=0.048).\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nMales may have a greater risk of hypoglycemia with an acute bout of RE than females. Further research is needed to examine this phenomenon more closely, as sex-specific recommendations for preventing hypoglycemia around RE may be necessary in type 1 diabetes.