Exploring the Variability in Acute Glycemic Responses to Exercise in Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Aim. To explore the factors associated with exercise-induced acute capillary glucose (CapBG) changes in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods. Fifteen individuals with T2D were randomly assigned to energy-matched high intensity interval exercise (HI-IE) and moderate intensity continuous exercise (MI-CE) interventions and performed a designated exercise protocol 5 days per week for 12 weeks. The duration of exercise progressed from 30 to 60 minutes. CapBG was measured immediately before and after each exercise session. Timing of food and antihyperglycemic medication intake prior to exercise was recorded. Results. Overall, the mean CapBG was lowered by 1.9 mmol/L (P < 0.001) with the change ranging from −8.9 to +2.7 mmol/L. Preexercise CapBG (44%; P < 0.001), medication (5%; P < 0.001), food intake (4%; P = 0.043), exercise duration (5%; P < 0.001), and exercise intensity (1%; P = 0.007) were all associated with CapBG changes, explaining 59% of the variability. Conclusion. The greater reduction in CapBG seen in individuals with higher preexercise CapBG may suggest the importance of exercise in the population with elevated glycemia. Lower blood glucose can be achieved with moderate intensity exercise, but prolonging exercise duration and/or including brief bouts of intense exercise accentuate the reduction, which can further be magnified by performing exercise after meals and antihyperglycemic medication. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrial.gov NCT01144078.

Cognitive effects of a 30-min aerobic exercise bout on adults with overweight/obesity and type 2 diabetes

“…Decreases in blood glucose following self-regulation, predictive ability of lower blood glucose for self-regulatory fatigue and restorative effects of glucose consumption have all contributed to the view that glucose depletion may serve as a mechanism for self-regulatory fatigue (57)(58)(59)(60)(61) and imply that a predisposition to decreased blood glucose may increase the likelihood of experiencing self-regulatory fatigue. Among individuals with T2DMbut not healthy lean adultsacute aerobic exercise has been shown to increase metabolic clearance of glucose (62) and decrease blood glucose (63). Together, these findings suggest that following acute aerobic exercise, individuals with T2DM may experience a greater decrease in glucose availability than is seen in the general population and, as a result, may be at greater risk of self-regulatory fatigue following exercise than healthy young or older adults.…”

Immediate post-breakfast physical activity improves interstitial postprandial glycemia: a comparison of different activity-meal timings

“…Since 2001, some studies [8,12,23,33,34,36,41,43] have highlighted the potential importance of activity-meal timing in relation to blood glucose control (reviewed in [39]). However, the number of studies is sparse and the sample sizes are small.…”

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