Assessment of changes in blood lactate levels in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes during a football tournament (GoalDiab Study)

INTRODUCTION: Monitoring physical activity is a very important issue, especially in type 1 diabetes. One of the parameters assessing the intensity of exercise is the concentration of lactate in the blood. AIM OF THE STUDY: We assessed the intensity of PE and changes in lactate levels in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) during a football tournament. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We enrolled 141 participants, the results of 70 of whom were analyzed, playing in two age categories: 10–13 and 14–17 years. Lactate levels were measured in the capillary blood before and after matches. Blood lactate of 4 mmol/l (Onset Blood Lactate Accumulation OBLA) was used as parameter indicating the prevalence of anaerobic metabolic changes. RESULTS: The median lactate level was 1.8 mmol/l before and 4.4 mmol/l after matches (p < 0.001). The increase in lactate levels was higher in the older age category (4.3 vs. 1.8, p = 0.001) and was independent on gender (3.2 vs. 2.1, p = 0.597), personal insulin pump vs insulin pen use (3.0 vs. 1.5, p = 0.145) or training in a sports club (1.4 vs. 3.0, p = 0.084). A positive correlation was noted between increased lactate levels and age (Rs = 0.253, p = 0.034). 61% of the participants exceeded lactate levels ≥ 4 mmol/l. In univariate logistic regression analysis age was a significantly associated with lactate level ≥ 4 mmol/l [OR = 1.45 (1.08–1.95)] independent of HbA(1c), gender, treatment method and training in a sports club. CONCLUSIONS: PE intensity levels during football matches were found to be mixed aerobic-anaerobic. Increases in lactate levels were greater in the older subjects independently on the assessed factors.