People with diabetes can exercise and play sports at the same level as everyone else, according to Teen Health. Some benefits of exercising for teen diabetics include strengthening bones and muscles, reducing the risk of heart disease and some types of cancer, increasing energy level, helping insulin work better in the body, relieving stress and burning calories.  According to the ADA (American Diabetes Association), if the body does not have enough insulin to use the glucose released during exercise, the glucose stays in the blood, which leads to high blood sugar levels.  The body releases extra glucose during exercise, which can add to high blood sugar levels, also known as hyperglycemia.

Click here to learn more about the effects of playing sports for diabetics.

Tattoos

It is recommended by Diabetes.co.uk, that diabetic teens should ensure that they are healthy and their diabetes is well controlled. High blood sugar could complicate the healing process of tattoos.  Blood pressure should also be within the targeted range.  There are certain areas on the body that have poor circulation and should be avoided when considering the placement of a tattoo.  Those areas include buttocks, shins, ankles, feet, and common insulin injection sites.

Follow this link to find out the main risks of teen diabetics getting tattoos.

Diabulimia eating disorder

According to Healthline, diabulimia is an eating disorder in which type 1 diabetics skip taking insulin in an effort to lose weight. Diabulimia may have serious health consequences if left untreated. A few of the symptoms or behaviors that a diabetic will have include depression, mood swings, fatigue, high glucose readings, body image issues, frequent infections, low sodium or potassium levels, increased appetite and diabetic ketoacidosis, which can be fatal.

According to Healthline, diabulimia treatment is individual to the person and the disorder. It is approached by a group of doctors working together on the physical and psychological aspects of the diabetic being treated. It is important to have an endocrinologist and registered dietitian involved to give specific advice related to diabetes, such as how to properly match insulin intake with carbohydrate counts. The treatment prescribed may be nutritional, educational, psychotherapy, or medication.

According to the ADA, in severe cases, diabulimia may even lead to stroke, coma, or death.

The health consequences you experience with diabulimia can be life threatening. With treatment, diabulimia can be overcome and long-term consequences avoided, according to the ADA. Make an appointment with a physician to discuss concerns and medical support needed.

Click here to get the facts about diabetic diabulimia. 

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