Resistance exercise in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: what clinicians need to know

Abstract

The benefits of regular exercise in children and young people (CYP) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are undisputed. Although encouraged, the total amount of exercise in this cohort remains suboptimal, with uncertainty of glycaemic response a barrier to exercise involvement. The bulk of the exercise literature for T1D concentrates on aerobic activities, but resistance exercise (RE) must not be overlooked. There are many benefits of RE – including physiological, psychological, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular effects – and emerging evidence highlights the possible glucose‐stabilising impact for individuals with T1D. In this review we describe the evidence base for the safety and benefits of RE in CYP with T1D, alongside strategies for optimising glycaemic management when engaging in this exercise modality, to minimise perceived barriers. Copyright © 2024 John Wiley & Sons.