Investigators: Dr Craig Taplin, Professor Elizabeth Davis, Professor Tim Jones, Dr Vinutha Shetty
Project description
Despite the key role of exercise in preventing the cardiovascular complications that shorten life expectancy in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D), children with T1D are less active and less physically fit than their peers. Evidence for how to change this situation is lacking. A validated method to systematically measure activity levels in youth with T1D is thus needed. This project therefore seeks to assess the validity, in youth with T1D, of three currently available child physical activity questionnaires by measuring their performance against objective accelerometry and in so doing, and thus identify a valid self-report questionnaire tool for measuring physical activity in youth with T1D for clinical use.
We intend to embed the best of these tools into clinical care for youth with T1D. Applications envisioned include the (i) longitudinal assessment of activity levels in youth (ii) educating youth on exercising safely, (iii) design intervention trials to find optimal methods to increase exercise levels at all ages, and (iv) to prescribe personalised and specific exercise for those whose physical activity levels fall over time.
To this end, we will recruit 100 children and adolescents with T1D, between the ages of 8-17 years. They will be recruited from the Metropolitan Diabetes Clinics run by the Diabetes Service of the Perth Children’s Diabetes Service, and will include the clinics at the following locations – Armadale, Joondalup, Midland, Nedlands (PCH main campus) and Rockingham.
Project outputs
The outcomes of this research will be submitted for publication in peer reviewed journals and for presentation at scientific meetings. The project results will be disseminated to patients and families through the bi-monthly newsletter and parent evenings, and to the clinicians at the departmental meeting.
Funders
Diabetes Australia