Priming Exercise in Type 1 Diabetes

The ability to tolerate high-intensity exercise, or exercise tolerance, is a key factor that can influence clinical outcomes in a range of conditions. The "critical power" is an important physiological threshold that demarcates exercise intensities that can be sustained for prolonged periods (i.e. below critical power) from intensities that result in exhaustion in a relatively short period of time (i.e. 2-30 minutes, above critical power). Critical power is therefore a key determinant of exercise tolerance. The speed with which oxygen uptake rises at the onset of exercise (i.e. oxygen uptake "kinetics") has been shown by work from our laboratory to be a key determinant of critical power. One intervention that can acutely improve the oxygen uptake kinetics is the performance of a prior bout of high-intensity exercise, known as "priming exercise". Patients with type 1 diabetes have previously been shown to have impaired exercise tolerance compared to healthy controls. The performance of priming exercise therefore represents a potential intervention to acutely improve oxygen uptake kinetics, and therefore critical power and exercise tolerance, in type 1 diabetic individuals. The purpose of this study is therefore to assess the influence of priming exercise on oxygen uptake kinetics and critical power in a population of type 1 diabetic individuals.

Inclusion criteria

Suffering from Type 1 diabetes with a diagnosed disease duration of 2 - 20 years and no comorbidities.

Exclusion criteria

History of stroke, congestive heart failure, hypertension, or cardiopulmonary disease.

Current smoking or have been smoking within the last 12 months Symptomatic autonomic or distal neuropathy HbA1c > 64 mmol/mol Hypoglycaemia unawareness in the last 6 months Taking any medications other than insulin.