Functional Mobility and Resistance Exercise for Postmenopausal Females With Type 1 Diabetes (FLEX-T1D)

From the registry

Improvements in diabetes care and technology have led to people with type 1 diabetes living longer. There are now more seniors than ever living with this complex health condition. With aging, type 1 diabetes affects both bone (more brittle), and muscle (loss of size and strength). This loss happens faster and to a greater extent in females than in males, and greatly increases the risk of frailty and falls. It may also occur more quickly in individuals who have higher blood glucose (sugar) levels. Frailty is an important factor to address. In older females, even mild frailty decreases the ability to perform day-to-day tasks, and increases the risk of fractures, falls, hospitalization, and even death. Performing regular exercise helps to maintain the strength and quality of both muscles and bones with aging. The best type of exercise to help maintain the ability to perform activities of daily living (known as functional mobility) for this population is currently unknown. Resistance exercise (weightlifting) helps to prevent decreases in mobility in seniors without diabetes. However,…