Macro partitioning
Carbohydrate intake of 3–12 g/kg/day, adjusted for exercise duration and intensity, is recommended for athletes with diabetes to optimize glycogen storage and performance.
As a diabetic athlete, you need carbohydrates to perform. Aim for 3 to 12 grams of carbohydrates per kilogram of your body weight each day. If you train for a long time or at high intensity, aim for the higher end of this range. This helps store glycogen in your muscles and liver, which is your main energy source during exercise. Monitor your blood sugar to see how your body responds to different amounts.
To estimate their daily carbohydrate needs, athletes are recommended to ingest 3–12 g of carbohydrates per kg of body weight; the precise amount will vary depending on the duration and intensity of their physical activity (Grade C).
Why this rating
The recommendation is based on Grade C evidence (expert consensus).
Source
Nutritional considerations for athletes with diabetes: optimizing performance and glycemic control
Liguang Xu et al. · Frontiers in Nutrition · 2026
DOI 10.3389/fnut.2026.1737219
More from this paper
- Athletes with Type 1 Diabetes should maintain pre-exercise blood glucose levels between 7.0–10.0 mmol/L to offset the risk of hypoglycemia, as exercise increases glucose disposal via GLUT4 translocation and insulin sensitivity.Moderate
- Sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) reduce HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, and body weight in Type 2 Diabetic athletes, but pose risks of hypovolemia, dehydration, and euglycemic DKA.Weak
Related findings · Macro partitioning
- Total daily protein intake of 1.6 g/kg/day is sufficient for maximizing resistance training-induced muscle gains, with an upper confidence interval of 2.2 g/kg/day.Strong
- Resistance exercise training combined with sufficient dietary protein intake acts synergistically to maximize skeletal muscle hypertrophy, with protein intake saturating around 1.6 g/kg/day for general populations and potentially requiring 2.0-2.2 g/kg/day for resistance-trained individuals.Strong
- Trans fats should be completely eliminated from the diet, as they increase LDL cholesterol, decrease HDL cholesterol, and are directly associated with increased coronary risk.Strong
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