[The participation in sports of diabetic children. A survey in the Rouen region].

The purpose of this survey conducted during the 1987 academic year was to collect information on the participation in sports, whether at school or in athletic clubs, of 63 children followed on an outpatient basis for diabetes mellitus and to determine what steps are effectively taken by these children to prevent hypoglycemia. Simultaneously, the participation in sports of 200 children seen in a surgical outpatient clinic for any reason was determined. The data collected demonstrated that the diabetic children participated as actively as non-diabetic children in athletics at school and, in addition, were likely to participate in out-of-school non-compulsory sports (40% versus 27%). Approximately two out of three diabetic children reported attempting to prevent hypoglycemia during sports at school by an intake of carbohydrates before or after the activity and/or by a reduction in the dose of insulin acting during the activity, with variable results. Results suggested that hypoglycemic episodes tended to be overtreated, perhaps in part because the teachers were apprehensive about the possible negative effects of hypoglycemia. During out-of-school non-compulsory athletic activities, especially competitive sports, preventive measures against hypoglycemia were consistently taken and diary results seemed to improve steadily in patients who trained regularly several times a week. Lastly, in the population studied no correlation was found between the time spent every week participating in sports and glycated hemoglobin levels.