Effect of Life-Style Activity of Varying Duration on Glycemic Control in Type II Diabetic Women

Abstract

Life-style activities such as walking are often recommended for patients with type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes. Because many of these patients are overweight and sedentary, such low-intensity activity would appear most appropriate, especially during initial intervention. However, there has been little research on the effects of low-intensity life-style activity on glycemic control. This study examined the effects of varying the duration (0, 20, or 40 min) of low-intensity exercise (50-55% of age-predicted max heart rate) on glycemic responses during exercise and a subsequent meal in type II diabetic patients. Glycemic response to exercise was significantly related to the duration of activity; 20 min of activity decreased blood glucose (BG) by 6 mg/dl, whereas 40 min decreased BG by 16 mg/dl. The effect of exercise on glucose was maintained over a 30-min rest period but disappeared after a meal was consumed. Insulin and the insulin-to-glucose ratio were not affected by the length of activity. These data suggest that life-style activity of long duration (20-40 min) produces a significant, but modest, decrease in glucose levels in type II diabetic women.

Impact of Time Interval from the Last Meal on Glucose Response to Exercise in Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes1

“…Thus, it is primordial to know the impact of the nutritional status on blood glucose response after exercise. It is important to note that subjects from previous studies and the present one were mildly hyperglycemic (8 -12 mmol/L) before the exercise session in the fasted state and that no hypoglycemia occurred in these individuals as in the present study (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). On the other hand, no significant decrease in blood glucose was observed in other studies in subjects with well controlled type 2 diabetes when exercise was performed in the fasted state when the subjects had not taken their usual oral hypoglycemic agents for at least 36 h before the study (4,5).…”

“…It has been shown that changes in plasma glucose levels are similar after 70 min of exercise at 50% VO 2peak compared to 50 min at 70% of VO 2peak (7). Moreover, the decline from baseline glucose is greater in subjects who start exercise with higher fasting blood glucose (7,8,11). Looking at the type of treatment and blood glucose control, the glycemic response to exercise tends to be greater in patients treated with diet only than in those treated with oral hypoglycemic agents (9,11).…”

Shinrin-yoku (forest-air bathing and walking) effectively decreases blood glucose levels in diabetic patients

“…The level of blood glucose has been reported to decline by 13 mg · 100 ml -1 in diabetic patients after 30 min exercise on a cycle ergometer at an intensity of 75% VO 2max (Schneider et al 1987). Paternostro-Bayles et al (1989) reported that after 40 min exercise on a cycle ergometer at 40-50% VO 2max , a fall in blood glucose level of 16.5 mg · 100 ml -1 was observed. A decrease of 40 mg · 100 ml -1 was obtained after 3 h exercise on a cycle ergometer at 40% VO 2max (Koivisto et al 1984).…”

Effect of Meal Dilution on the Postprandial Glycemic Response: Implications for glycemic testing

“…They were instructed to maintain the same dietary and exercise patterns the evening before each test. They were also instructed to avoid exercise on test mornings, so as to avoid any possible effects of preprandial exercise on fasting blood levels (21). To ensure that these instructions were followed, participants completed a questionnaire detailing information about their diet and lifestyle patterns during the 16 h prior to the test.…”