Blood glucose response to aerobic exercise training programme among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu South-East, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Control of diabetes involves maintaining normal or near normal blood glucose levels through appropriate therapy: insulin, oral hypoglycemic agents, diet and exercise. The aim of this study was to investigate the blood glucose response to aerobic exercise training among subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu. Materials and Methods: Subjects with diagnosis of T2DM attending the diabetes clinic of the UNTH participated in the study. A total of 54 subjects with T2DM (fasting blood sugar [FBS] of between110 and 225 mg/dl) were randomized into two age matched groups: Exercise (n = 30) and control (n = 24) groups. The exercise group involved in an 8 week continuous training (60-79% heart rate [HR] max) of between 45 and 60 min, 3 times/week, while the controls group remain sedentary. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), aerobic fitness (VO 2 max) and FBS were assessed. Analysis of covariance and Pearson correlation tests were used in data analysis. Results: We observed significant effect of exercise training program on, SBP (P = 0.000), DBP (P = 0.007), FBS (P = 0.001) and VO 2 max (P = 0.013). Changes in VO 2 max significantly and negatively correlated with changes in FBS (r = −0.220) at P < 0.05. Conclusion: It was concluded that aerobic exercise program is an effective adjunct in controlling blood glucose level among type 2 diabetic subjects.

Keywords

• Aerobic exercise
• blood glucose
• type 2 diabetes mellitus