Distanciamento social, atividade física e COVID-19: implicações no Diabetes Mellitus tipo 1 no Brasil

Abstract

There is evidence that glycemic uncontrol and diabetes are risk factors for complications related to COVID-19. To minimize the risks of contagion, social distancing measures were adopted in Brazil in March 2020. However, social isolation can hinder the adhering to a healthy lifestyle, mainly related to the practice of physical activity and stress control. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possible impacts of social distancing measures on the habits and practice of physical activity of individuals with type I diabetes. Regarding the results, 472 people (406 women and 66 men) answered the form and 404 (85.6%) reported respecting social distancing measures. The condition of social distancing negatively affected the practice of physical activity in the adhering to the habit of practicing, in the frequency, duration and perception of change in intensity during distance. Although the majority reported little stress in the domestic environment in a situation of distancing, great financial and social impacts were reported. Regarding the associations between the main variables, a direct association was found between perceiving too much stress in the domestic environment and stopping physical activity. Also perceptions of worse degrees of tolerance to social distancing were associated with lower practice of physical activity. Although no association was found between adhering to measures of social distancing and change in the habit of practicing physical activity in individuals who continued to move during the pandemic, it was found that maintaining the habit of practicing physical activity was associated with decreasing the intensity of this practice. Therefore, social distancing and some of its consequences impaired the practice of physical activity as part of the treatment of individuals with type I diabetes, both the habit of practicing and the characteristics of these physical activity practices such as frequency, duration and intensity.