Diabetes and Exercise Several years ago, Tommy Johnson, at age of 28, looked at his mirror image in his home in Phoenix and wondered what was happening to his body, as he watched. Hospitalized in Phoenix for several days of testing, Johnson was found to have Type 1, or insulin-dependent diabetes. He didn’t even have the time to go through denial, depression or any of the other classic emotional symptoms, says Johnson. He had training camp coming up, and like hundreds of professional football players, his job was on the line, linked exactly to his performance in training camp. Johnson relates that he just listened to what the doctor had to say about ways in which to keep his blood sugar levels, as close to normal as possible. Taking Self-Responsibility There are two major types of diabetes. Type II or non-insulin-dependent diabetes represents about 90% o f all cases of diabetes. However Type I diabetes is the more severe form of the disease. This is a genetically-based chronic endocrine disorder of unknown cause, that affects the body’s ability to manufacture and utilize insulin, the hormone needed to break down sugars and starches into blood sugar (glucose), the body’s major energy source. As a result, sugar levels in the blood become too high. The cells of the pancreas (the small insulin-producing organ located behind the stomach) don’t function properly, making it difficult to metabolize food. Since the glucose can’t be utilized, the levels raise dangerously; daily insulin injections are needed in order to live. This differs from Type Ii diabetes, where insulin is produced but the amount is insufficient or else the cells can’t utilize it properly. There are risks associated with exercise for the Type I, insulin-dependent diabetic – such as low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) – but if an athlete learns to control changing glucose levels by adjusting insulin levels and snacking on sugary, or slowly – absorbed carbohydrates when needed, and then it’s possible to exercise quite vigorously. Other than insulin or diet, exercise is the most important factor in helping diabetics maintains proper blood sugar levels.