Type 1 diabetes & skiing

If you are physically active for a prolonged period, on a skiing trip or an outward bound camp for example, you will have an increased insulin sensitivity after 1-2 days which will probably call for substantially lower insulin doses (decreased by 20% or sometimes even 50% especially if you are not used to hard physical exercise). You must increase your food intake to compensate for the increased energy output and it is usual to be hungry after a day of vigorous activity. The increased insulin sensitivity will continue for at least a couple of days after you return home. Check your blood glucose levels and you will see when it is time to increase the insulin doses again. It is important when skiing to eat extra sweet snacks before going on a long ski-lift ride to make these carbohydrates last through the next ski slope.