The Effect of Physical Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Metabolic Control in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused lifestyle changes for many people. In this study, we evaluated the effects of physical activity (PA) at COVID-19 pandemic on the metabolic control of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Methods: Age, sex, blood pressure, comorbidity, anthropometric and sociodemographic data of 6-18 years old 82 patients with T1DM were recorded. Averages of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profiles, and daily insulin dose during the pandemic and a year prior were also recorded. With "Physical Activity Questionnaire-A/C" PA and screen time during the pandemic and a year prior were questioned. Patients were divided into 2 subgroups: normal weighted (group 1) and overweighted/obese (group 2) and were compared. Results: Of the 82 patients, 47 were girls and mean age was 12.2±3.2 years. Group 1 had 64, group 2 had 18 patients and no difference was observed in terms of age, sex, comorbidity and sociodemographic data between the groups. There was a significant increase in screen time, the number of parents staying at home with children and body mass index (BMI) standard devation (SD), and a significant decrease in PA, blood pressure SD and low-density lipoprotein levels, but there was no change in HbA1c levels at the pandemic in both groups. The insulin dose was increased in group 1 at pandemic. There was a negative correlation between PA and the insulin dose. Conclusion: During the pandemic, PA of patients with T1DM decreased, screen time, the number of parents staying at home with children and BMI SD was increased, but their metabolic controls did not deteriorate. This result was attributed to the fact that the support of the family might be much more decisive for metabolic control during a pandemic.