With today's knowledge and methods of control, people with diabetes no longer have to stay on the sidelines. But there are a few tips to make sure that athletes with diabetes maintain control. The International Diabetic Athletes Association recommends:

• Get your doctor's clearance for participation in rough, demanding, or competitive sports.
• Arrange a signal with your coach to enable you to stop to get something to eat when you need to.
• Have a plan for taking care of emergencies; keep candy, soft drinks, or juice readily available.

You can reduce your chances of having a hypoglycemic reaction during intense exercise by:

• Increasing your intake of carbohydrates and sugar before, during, and after exercise,
• Reducing the amount of insulin you take before exercise, or
• Both.