HypoActive

Media Release
Wednesday February 10, 2010

A weekend for adults with type one diabetes to learn how to best manage their condition while exercising will be run for the first time ever in Victoria on February 12-14.

The event, called AcT1vate, will be a residential camp at University College, Parkville comprising of expert speakers from around Australia on diabetes and exercise as well as practical tips from top sporting coaches to help participants develop a more active lifestyle and improve their overall health. 

It is an initiative of Diabetes Australia – Victoria, who collaborated with type one diabetic support group, HypoActive, to bring this unique program to Victoria. The concept was formed after revealing research in Canada* showed that the biggest barrier to regular exercise for someone with type one diabetes is the fear of hypoglycaemia, or low blood sugar.

‘For people without type one diabetes, barriers to regular exercise are often surrounding lifestyle factors such as work or care for children’ said HypoActive President Monique Hanley, a type one diabetic for twelve years and professional cyclist until a major crash in 2009 sidelined her. ‘We’ve known anecdotally for some time that the fear of ‘going low’ stops a lot of people with type one diabetes from joining our events so to have this research is helpful for us to find practical ways forward to assist in overcoming these fears.’

Organisers were surprised that with little publicity promoting AcT1vate, interest among Victoria’s 32,000 type one diabetes population was overwhelming. The event has attracted participants from all of Victoria and now has a waiting list for a future edition. For many, the weekend is an opportunity to not only learn from the speakers but to also compare notes on what others do to manage their condition in various scenarios. ‘I don’t know anyone else with type one diabetes so this is a good opportunity for me to meet others with the same condition’ said Mt Beauty resident Elaine Thomas, who was diagnosed with type one diabetes in 2006. ‘I mostly exercise on my own and live in a remote location so it is a real danger for me if I go low when out on my own. My partner worries about me and I can’t go anywhere without my phone and my SOS bracelet and I have to call after a certain time. I was out riding one day and was a bit longer than normal and my boss called worried saying, ‘are you low or high?’’

Thomas, 43, sees AcT1vate as a way to improve the way she approaches her diabetes management with the hope of avoiding low or high blood sugars. ‘For me, exercise and bike riding is the thing that makes me feel the best. I know that when I exercise that my diabetes is easier to manage. But I don’t really understand why exercise helps my diabetes management so much, so I hope this weekend will help to teach me some of that.’

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More information:
www.hypoactive.org                    
Monique Hanley 0411 426 539
*Relevant research: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/31/11/2108.full
 
Speakers for AcT1vate:
Katherine Iscoe                B.A., M.Sc., CEP, Ph.D. Candidate, Director of the Perth Diabetes Fits Camps
Cheryl Steele                     RN – CDE, Manager, Diabetes Education Services at Western Health
Helen Donovan                  B.Sc (Psychology), Grad.Dip. Psych, Cert III & IV Fitness, D.Psych Candidate, Director of Lifestyle Management Australia
Tony Benson                      Level 5 Track and Field coach, Level 3 Triathlon Coach, National Track and Field Consultant (AFTCA), Director of Endurance Performance Systems
Paulette Mifsud                 B.A. (Psychology), G.D.A.C.P., M.A (App Sci). MAPS’s, Sports Psychologist
Carey Hall                            Cycling coach, former professional athlete and type one diabetic. 
Catherine Prochilo            Diabetes Educator – RN CDE, Health & Education Services Team Leader Diabetes Australia – Vic
Catarina Yeung                  Accredited Practising Dietitian/ Accredited Nutritionist, Diabetes Educator