Blood Glucose Response to an Acute Bout of Aerobic and Resistance Exercise in T2DM Patients

Abstract

Achieving and maintaining appropriate blood glucose levels is vital to managing diabetes and has traditionally been achieved through the use of medication, dietary intervention, and exercise. ACSM recommends both aerobic (AE) and resistance exercise (RE) for the diabetic population, yet research to identify which mode of exercise elicits greater acute blood glucose (BG) response is limited when matching energy expenditure, intensity and time. PURPOSE: To determine whether a difference exists between an acute bout of AE and RE on the BG response in type II diabetic patients (T2DM). METHODS: Sedentary males and females over 30 years of age, diagnosed with T2DM for 1-10 years (N=10) participated in an acute bout of moderate intensity RE, AE and control session. RE protocol consisted of a circuit training regimen, 6 exercises, on plate loaded machines. Subjects performed 2 sets of 12 reps at 60% of estimated 1-RM. The AE protocol consisted of walking on a treadmill at 40-60% HRR. To match energy expenditure, a portable metabolic mask was worn to measure VO2 and Kcals during exercise and for 30 mins after. BG was checked with a glucometer pre and post exercise. Multiple measures were in place to match pre BG concentrations, energy expenditure and time throughout exercise conditions. During the control session subjects self-checked and reported BG over a specific time period, while going about normal ADLs at home. RESULTS: Paired t-tests were conducted to determine if differences existed between testing conditions with respect to VO2, R-value, Kcals, MET levels, time, and RPE. Analyses revealed significant (p < .05) mean differences across the conditions for all the metabolic variables, except amount of time exercising. Average VO2 (ml/kg/min) for RE 9.8 ± 1.7 and AE 11.9 ± 2.6. Kcals burned for RE 194.1 ± 51.95 and AE 222.0 ± 59.3. No significant interaction (p > .05) existed for condition and time, however, results revealed a significant main effect for time with respect to BG. The average pre and post exercise BG values (mg/dl) for AE was 179.8 ± 65.90; 160.6 ± 58.41 and RE was 187.7 ± 68.93; 172.9 ± 79.17. CONCLUSION: Both AE and RE reduce BG similarly when matched for caloric expenditure. Given the difficulty controlling and matching energy expenditure between the modes of exercise, the current findings should be interpreted with caution.