Effect of a Single Bout Interval Aerobic Exercise on Blood Glucose Level in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Long term aerobic exercise is beneficial for combating hyperglycaemia in T₂DM patients, however, little is known about the immediate effect of aerobic exercise on hyperglycaemia in this populace. Ascertaining this might be useful in managing sudden rise in blood glucose level seen in poorly managed T₂DM patients in our environment. This is an interventional study in which sex and age-matched T₂DM patients participated. Subjects were randomly allocated into groups, and were on prescribed oral hypoglycemics and diabetes exchange diet, which provided about 50–60% of calories from carbohydrates, 10–20% of calories from protein and < 30% of calories from fat, while the intervention group had exercise in addition. We used three different measures of blood glucose level: FBG, HbA1c and fructosamine. Subjects’ aerobic capacities were determined prior to the intervention, which constituted interval aerobic exercise performed at sub-maximal intensity for 48 minutes at work-rest ratio of 1: 1. A total of 40 (20 male and 20 females) T₂DM patients, with mean age and body mass index of 56±8years and 26±4Kg/m² respectively participated in the study. At baseline, the intervention and control groups had similar anthropometric, cardiovascular characteristics (P>0.05), and blood glucose level measured by HbA1c and fructosamine (P> 0.05), while the intervention group had higher FBG. Results reveal significant decrease in blood glucose level measured by FBG (P< 0.05) and fructosamine (P <0.05) in the exercise group. Single bout aerobic exercise reduces blood glucose level in T₂DM patients but the reduction is small and short-lived.