[bammerman]

A few years back I was an award winning Tae Kwon Fighter. I am looking at getting into MMA here in Reno. Now since I am a T1 I have been getting bad glares from my wife (who is studying to be a nurse) saying I am going to be in constant pain, and my wounds are going to heal slowly. I know blood flow is restricted to my feet but what about black eyes, cut lips, etc...? Any of you doing UFC style of training. I don't want to be a pro at it or even try. I just like Brazilian jujitsu since that is what the ARMY combative’s are based on.

[Kendall]

I would say that if your blood sugars are in tight control, try it out and see. Fighting for practice and fighting for competition might do very different things to your blood sugars though. Beware of lows during practice and highs during competition as adrenaline tends to up sugars. I used to do martial arts and would always need extra insulin before tournaments, esp. sparring.

As with so many things in diabetes land, it is all very individual and one person may heal slowly and have a lot of difficulty and another would fare just fine. I'd suggest talking to your doctor about it (listen to the worry about the diabetes aspect and take their worry about injury with a grain of salt IMO). Start out slowly, test often, and see how you react.

[pumper]

bammerman,

I agree with Kendall.

Blood flow restricted to the extremities and slower healing mainly applies to type 2 (not type 1 - though it can also happen to type 1).

BUT

MOST IMPORTANTLY, this is a complication of uncontrolled diabetes. So, keep your blood sugar values in check, and the likelihood of developing these problems is significantly reduced.

So, give MMA a try. Start off slow, watch your blood sugar.

I know of two diabetics that do martial arts. They seem fine with it, diabetes-wise.

[Scratch]

Good blood sugar control and being active -- those two things will mean you shouldn't have much trouble healing from cuts like a normal person.

[IrishJoe]

I would say to try it. Though I would be worried about the slow healing thing.

[volleyball]

I might as well get all the hate up front by saying, people learning medicine are the most dangerous to listen to. You go from the average person to learning about something by being told. You base way to much on the little you know. After you learn it all and then work in the field and see for yourself under supervision do you become a good reference point.
This applies to a lot of technologies. I am not picking on medical professionals
Circulation problems is not a type 2 or 1 problem, it is a poor control problem. So is healing.
If you have bloated feet now, you might want to work on that first. If you are in good shape already then you have nothing to fear. You do have to realize you are older and pain will take longer to go away. You can compare it to others your own age that you spar with.
I give blood several times a week. a little bit here, a little bit there, you get the picture. But I heal as fast as people a decade or more younger, though muscle and joint aches seem longer to go away.