Continuous Glucose Monitors Help Type 1 Diabetics Finish Marathons

New research scheduled for presentation at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) annual meeting in Milan suggests that continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) can make marathon running safe for people with type 1 diabetes. The small study focused on participants who used CGM devices to track their glucose levels in real time while completing a full marathon.

The findings indicate that CGM technology helps runners with type 1 diabetes anticipate and respond to glucose fluctuations during intense, prolonged physical activity. This real-time feedback appears to reduce the risk of dangerous hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, allowing athletes to maintain stable blood sugar levels throughout the race.

While the study is limited in scale, it adds practical evidence to a field where anecdotal experience often outpaces clinical data. The researchers are expected to present detailed glucose profiles and outcomes at the conference, which runs from September 28 to October 2. For now, the takeaway is that marathon participation is not inherently off-limits for people with type 1 diabetes, provided they have the right monitoring tools and management strategies in place.