We are thinking of putting in a swimming pool for our 13 year old son with type 1 diabetes to use. How do you think swimming compares to other types of exercise?

Exercise is one of the cornerstones of good diabetes management and overall good health. Swimming is certainly an excellent exercise for anyone who is willing and able to enjoy it! If swimming pool activity is something that your son will be involved in on a consistent basis, then it is certainly something that I, as an exercise professional, whole-heartedly support. Attempt to pattern his typical blood sugar response to this particular activity with glucose monitoring pre/post activity. This will assist you, your son, and your healthcare team in identifying and making necessary adjustments to his carb intake or insulin dosing.

Don’t be surprised to see rather dramatic reductions in blood sugar as a result of swimming and related pool activity. Children can burn lots of calories, and hence lots of blood glucose during pool play. Congratulations on your efforts to teach the importance of physical activity to your son, and most importantly enjoy a safe summer with your pool!

DMW