Carbohydrate requirements to maintain a stable glycaemia during exercise performed under basal and high insulinaemic condition in individuals with type 1 diabetes

This thesis examines the effect of exercise intensity and plasma insulin level on the amount of exogenous glucose required to maintain stable blood glucose levels (glycaemia) during and after exercise in individuals with type 1 diabetes. This thesis shows that there is an Inverted U relationship between exercise intensity and the glucose requirements to maintain stable glycaemia under basal plasma insulin conditions, with no exogenous glucose being required at high exercise intensities. Under hyperinsulinaemic conditions, however, there Is a near hyperbolic rather than an Inverted U relationship between the exogenous glucose requirements to maintain stable glycaemia and exercise intensity, with more glucose being required than under basal insulinaemic conditions. Finally, this thesis reveals that, regardless of the levels at which glycaemia Is maintained, no extra glucose Is required to maintain stable glycaemia during the first -20 minutes of moderate intensity exercise performed under basal insulinaemic conditions.