Engaging South Asian women with type 2 diabetes in a culturally relevant exercise intervention: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

BackgroundWe examined the efficacy of a culturally relevant exercise program in improving glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) among South Asian women with type 2 diabetes, compared with usual care.MethodsThis was a randomized controlled 8-week pilot study of Bollywood dance among South Asian women with type 2 diabetes. The intervention consisted of 1 h Bollywood dance classes offered twice per week. The primary outcome was change in HbA1c. The effect of attendance on this outcome was also examined.ResultsThe intervention group demonstrated a decrease in HbA1c from baseline (−0.18% (0.2%); p=0.018) compared with a non-significant increase in the usual care group (+0.03% (0.2%)); p value for difference between groups was 0.032. Participants attending at least 10 of 16 sessions had a statistically significant reduction in weight (−0.69 kg (0.76 kg)) compared with those attending fewer sessions (+0.86 kg (0.71 kg)).ConclusionsThese results support culturally relevant dance as a successful exercise intervention to promote HbA1c control, compared with usual care.Trial registration numberNCT02061618.

The effectiveness of structured exercise in the south Asian population with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review

“…The majority of these trials (n=15) were of poor methodological quality scoring less than 6/10 on the PEDro scale (Table 2). Only one trial, published in two articles, stated that the assessor was blinded (33,34) and the 'concealed allocation' criterion was satisfied in only one trial (16). Six trials did not provide between-group analysis (18,20,21,(25)(26)(27)(28)38).…”

“…The 18 trials included 1063 participants, of whom 959 (90%) were Indian. The time since diagnosis of T2DM was at least six months in seven trials (16,(22)(23)(24)(30)(31)(32). The remaining studies did not report T2DM duration.…”

“…Two trials compared the efficacy of two different exercise programs (17,31) and one trial with three intervention arms examined the efficacy of two exercise programs compared to usual care (23). The programs involved aerobic exercise (n=10) (17,23,(29)(30)(31)33,(35)(36)(37), resistance exercise (n=7) (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)26,27), combined aerobic and resistance (n=3) (16)(17)(18), and balance exercise training (n=1) (38).…”

“…Supervised combined exercise programs were described in three trials (16)(17)(18). The length of these programs were 8 (16), 10 (17), and 24 weeks (18).…”

“…The length of these programs were 8 (16), 10 (17), and 24 weeks (18). Only two studies reported duration, and in those two studies sessions lasted 60 minutes (16,17). Two studies included aerobic and resistance exercise in the same session two or three times per week respectively (16,17), while one study prescribed aerobic and resistance training in different sessions (three days aerobic and two days resistance per week) (18).…”