Graduation Year
2024
Document Type
Senior Thesis
Degree
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Primary Major
Nursing
Primary Minor
Psychology
Thesis Advisor
Lynn Noyce, RN, MSN, AGPCNP-BC
Abstract
The difficulties that children and teenagers with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) encounter are discussed in this thesis, with a focus on how fear of hypoglycemia (FOH) and actual hypoglycemia associated with this chronic illness affects their ability to engage in physical activities, especially organized sports. A common challenge for children diagnosed with T1DM is meeting the daily recommendation of 60 minutes of daily moderate to vigorous physical activity. The purpose of the proposed study is to evaluate if participation in structured exercise (physical education classes and after-school sports) increases among school-aged children who wear continuous glucose monitors (CGM) when their PE teachers and coaches have been specifically trained to interpret their CGM data and intervene to correct their hypoglycemia. The study will also examine the intervention's effect on the children's FOH and incidence of unsafe blood glucose levels during such structured exercise. Pre and post-intervention FOH will be measured using the Hypoglycemia Fear Survey, which is a validated FOH Questionnaire. Pre and post-intervention blood glucose levels during structured exercise will be measured by CGM. Pre and post-intervention structured exercise participation levels will be measured by the PE teachers and coaches. The ultimate goal of this research is to increase activity and quality of life levels for youth with T1DM.