[Physical fitness in diabetic adolescents (author's transl)].

In 33 young diabetics, 10 to 17 years old, physical fitness was evaluated during exercise on a bicycle ergometer. Physical work capacity and maximal oxygen uptake are significantly lower in diabetics than in control subjects. The efficiency (W/VO2) is also significantly decreased in diabetic adolescents. These discrepancies might be explained by a lower physical training and an insufficient degree of metabolic control in diabetic patients.