Glucose response to exercise in the post‐prandial period is independent of exercise intensity

Abstract

This study investigated the acute glucose response to low-intensity, moderate-intensity, and high-intensity interval exercise compared to no-exercise in healthy insufficiently active males using a four-arm, randomized, crossover design. Ten males (age: 37.3 ± 7.3 years, BMI: 29.3 ± 6.5 kg·m ) completed four 30-minute interventions at weekly intervals comprising low-intensity exercise (LIE) at ~35% V˙O R, moderate-intensity exercise (MIE) at ~50% V˙O R, high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) at ~80% V˙O R, and a no-exercise control. Participants performed cycle ergometer exercise 30 minutes after finishing breakfast. Glucose response was assessed using a continuous glucose monitor under free-living conditions with dietary intake replicated. A significant effect for intensity on energy expenditure was identified (P < .001) with similar energy cost in MIE (mean ± SD: 869 ± 148 kJ) and HIIE (806 ± 145 kJ), which were both greater than LIE (633 ± 129 kJ). The pattern of glucose response between the interventions over time was different (P = .02). Glucose was lower 25 minutes into each of the HIIE, MIE and LIE trials respectively (mean difference ± SD: -0.7 ± 1.1; -0.9 ± 1.1; -0.6 ± 0.9 mmol·L ; P < .05) than in the no-exercise trial. Glucose response was not different between exercise intensities (P > .05). Twenty-four-hour AUC was not affected by exercise intensity (P = .75). There was a significant effect for exercise enjoyment (P = .02), with LIE (69 ± 4) preferred less than HIIE (mean ± SD: 84 ± 14; P = .02), MIE (73 ± 5; P = .03), and no-exercise (75 ± 4; P = .03). Exercise at any intensity 30 minutes after a meal affects glycemic regulation equally in insufficiently active males. Moderate to vigorous exercise intensities were preferred, and therefore, the exercise guidelines appear appropriate for the prevention of cardiometabolic disease.

A position statement on screening and management of prediabetes in adults in primary care in Australia

“…Immediate glucose responses to exercise are variable and likely to be of very short duration; nonetheless, brief improvements in glucose regulation contribute to overall glycaemic control [64]. However, exercise should be participated in frequently to optimise the metabolic responses to mitigate the risk of developing IFG or type 2 diabetes [65]. Interval training appears to be safe; the nature of and frequency of adverse events is not different to continuous aerobic exercise training.…”

Train like an athlete: applying exercise interventions to manage type 2 diabetes

“…Interestingly, HIT improves performance with a lower time commitment compared with continuous moderate-intensity training (1.5 vs 4.5 h/week, respectively), making HIT an alluring alternative for the engaged contemporary lifestyle [ 38 ]. In addition, an acute HIT bout effectively lowers blood glucose levels to a similar extent as an isocaloric bout of moderate intensity [ 39 ]. An RCT has shown that 3 months of HIT lowers fasting glucose (by 0.7 mmol/l), reduces HOMA-IR (by 25%) and decreases glycaemic variability (by 5%) in individuals with type 2 diabetes [ 40 ].…”

Five Evidence-Based Lifestyle Habits People With Diabetes Can Use

“…There is general agreement among researchers that timely postmeal exercise lowers blood glucose levels in a variety of populations (50)(51)(52)(53)(54)(55)(56)(57)(58)(59)(60)(61)(62)(63)(64)(65)(66)(67)(68)(69). However, postmeal exercise with a high energy expenditure may cause hyperglycemia (25,26) or hypoglycemia (36,37).…”

“…However, postmeal exercise with a high energy expenditure may cause hyperglycemia (25,26) or hypoglycemia (36,37). Studies comparing premeal walks and postmeal walks and focusing on the immediate (,24-hour) glucose response have identified timely postmeal exercise as the better option to deal with meal-related glucose surges in different populations (32)(33)(34)(35)(52)(53)(54)60,61).…”

“…Furthermore, with regard to exercise sequencing, resistance exercise followed by aerobic exercise is preferable to aerobic exercise followed by resistance exercise (79). The main benefit of starting postmeal exercise 30-60 minutes after meals is to blunt postmeal glucose surges (50)(51)(52)(53)(54)(55)(56)(57)(58)(59)(60)(61)(62)(63)(64)(65)(66)(67)(68). The risk of delayed hypoglycemia is minimal with moderate postmeal physical activities.…”