Fear of hypoglycemia, a game changer during physical activity in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients

Maja Cigrovski Berkovic; Ines Bilic-Curcic; Lavinia La Grasta Sabolic; Anna Mrzljak; Vjekoslav Cigrovski

doi:10.4239/wjd.v12.i5.569

Fear of hypoglycemia, a game changer during physical activity in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients

World J Diabetes. 2021 May 15;12(5):569-577. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v12.i5.569.

Authors

Maja Cigrovski Berkovic¹, Ines Bilic-Curcic², Lavinia La Grasta Sabolic³, Anna Mrzljak⁴, Vjekoslav Cigrovski⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb 10000, Croatia. maja.cigrovskiberkovic@gmail.com.
² Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of J. J. Strossmayer Osijek, Osijek 31000, Croatia.
³ Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University Hospital Centre Sestre Milosrdnice, Zagreb 10000, Croatia.
⁴ Department of Medicine, Merkur University Hospital, Zagreb 10000, Croatia.
⁵ Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb 10000, Croatia.

Abstract

Hypoglycemia limits optimal glycemic management of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Fear of hypoglycemia (FoH) is a significant psychosocial consequence that negatively impacts the willingness of T1DM patients to engage in and profit from the health benefits of regular physical activity (e.g., cardiometabolic health, improved body composition, cardiovascular fitness, quality of life). Technological advances, improved insulin regimens, and a better understanding of the physiology of various types of exercise could help ameliorate FoH. This narrative review summarizes the available literature on FoH in children and adults and tools to avoid it.

Keywords: Exercise management; Fear of hypoglycemia; Hypoglycemia; Modern technology; Physical activity; Type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Publication types

Review