Summer is coming and you are already planning sunny day trips. You would like to know if it is safe to go Lifeguard pretest and swimming if you or a loved one has type 1 diabetes.
The short answer is: yes! If you take safety precautions and get clearance from your diabetes care team, you can go swimming normally.
Benefits of Lifeguard swimming for people with type 1 diabetes
Regular physical activity has many benefits for everyone, including people with type 1 diabetes. 1 Swimming can help you manage your blood glucose levels and has countless other benefits for heart, bone and emotional well-being. 2 .
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Your blood glucose level changes daily for a variety of reasons, including:
- The type of exercise (anaerobic or aerobic).
- The time of your last meal.
- The composition of your last meal.
- Your current blood glucose level.
- The time of the last insulin administration.
Swimming for pleasure is a form of aerobic exercise, while competitive swimming is a form of anaerobic exercise. Both are forms of exercise that provide many health benefits for people with type 1 diabetes.
A recent study investigated the relationship between swimming and blood glucose levels in adult men with type 1 diabetes. Comparable age participants were divided into two groups. Participants in both groups had hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) tested before and after the 10-week swimming program. The results showed significant improvements in HbA1c levels in participants who participated in the 10-week swimming program compared to those who did not swim. The research indicated that swimming as part of daily exercise can help lower blood glucose levels.
Lifeguard swimming safety tips
Are you ready to make the most of the summer and go swimming? Go for it! Here are some expert tips to help you stay safe and avoid problems.
- Check your blood glucose level before you exercise.
- Exercise generally lowers your blood glucose level because your body needs more energy. That is why it is important to check your blood glucose level before swimming or exercising in any other way.
- Check your insulin supply.
- Whether you have an insulin pump or inject insulin, you need to make sure you have enough supplies and can adjust your schedule to your glucose level.
- Ask your diabetes care team about using your insulin pump in water.
- If you use an insulin pump, be aware that not all pumps are safe to use in water. It is always a good idea to check the specific manual for your device to see if the pump is waterproof. It is also a good idea to use an extra patch to make sure your system stays in place while swimming. If you want to try scuba diving or any other water sport, ask your diabetes care team about device safety and other things to consider. 4
- Bring a snack.
- When you leave home for a swim, bring a few snacks with you to be prepared for your glucose levels to drop.
- Be prepared to take a break.
- If you’re going to be swimming for a long time, be prepared to take a break in case your glucose levels drop too much.
- Keep drinking.
- When you are underwater, you will not notice that you are sweating or that you are thirsty. Drink plenty of water regularly, especially if you swim in a hot climate or outdoors.
- Let other know what to do in an emergency case.
An emergency is unlikely to happen
But you should always be prepared whether you have type 1 diabetes or not. If you need help Lifeguarding swimming, it’s important that your friends and family know you have type 1 diabetes and who to call. If you are alone, you can wear an ID card on a bracelet or necklace.
If you take the proper precautions and talk to your diabetes care team, you can enjoy the same water sports as people without type 1 diabetes. 4
Talk to your diabetes care team about resuming an exercise routine if you have elevated ketones or if you have had hypoglycemia or other diabetes-related complications.
Also Read About: Benefits of Lifeguarding and swimming in the least ages
To conclude
Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, whether you have type 1 diabetes or not. If you have type 1 diabetes, you can generally do all exercise and physical activities, just like people who do not have type 1 diabetes.
When you swim, whether for fun or as a sport, your glucose metabolism will change, which will also change your energy needs. Therefore, you may need to check your glucose level more often than usual. Talk to your diabetes care team about adjusting your insulin and meal planning.
Enjoy the summer as much as possible: you can simply go Lifeguard swimming in the warm months as part of your exercise program.
