A diabetes expert from the University of Exeter has received a grant from the Danish Diabetes Academy to develop an educational program to help people with type 1 diabetes exercise safely.
The program will also help advance important research on type 1 diabetes and exercise in Denmark.
Professor Rob Andrews is an Associate Professor of Diabetes at the University of Exeter and an advisor to the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. He will work at the Steno Diabetes Center in Copenhagen.
He will bring together a group of experts in exercise and diabetes research, people with type 1 diabetes, and experts from Denmark and England to develop structured exercise programs.
Your main task will be to investigate how an online training program for people with type 1 diabetes can be culturally adapted for testing and implementation in Denmark.
During his time at Steno, Prof. Andrews will also shape the collaboration between scientists in Denmark and England so that they can develop studies that expand our understanding of how best to motivate and support people with type 1 diabetes to be more physical can.
For over 20 years, Prof. Andrews has headed a specialized sports and diabetes clinic that currently supports more than 100 top athletes with type 1 diabetes. He also led the development of an exercise program called EXTOD (exercise for type 1 diabetes) for people with type 1 diabetes.
“I am honored to have been asked by the Danish Diabetes Academy to become a visiting professor,” said Prof. Andrews. “Introducing an exercise program for type 1 diabetes will bring so many benefits to people with type 1 diabetes across Denmark.
“The EXTOD program was developed over a decade and is based on extensive research examining and addressing barriers to physical activity in people with type 1 diabetes.
“It also showed that people with type 1 diabetes can safely, safely, and effectively be physically active, thereby reaping the health benefits of physical activity.
“This is important because our self-reported and objectively measured data has shown that people with type 1 diabetes tend to exercise a third less than other people.
“This could be a big problem for their health and wellbeing as we know that exercise reduces mortality and fluctuations in blood sugar levels and improves people’s quality of life.
“With the EXTOD program already in place in NHS hospitals in the UK, this grant means we can expand the program to help people with type 1 diabetes in Denmark continue to move around safely. The study also helped us develop supportive methods for adjusting insulin and carbohydrates. “
