Effectiveness of Brisk Walking Exercise on Glycaemic Control and Cardio-Vascular Risk Factors in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Objective: Our aim is to evaluate the effect of brisk walking exercise on anthropometric characteristics, blood parameters, physical performance and cardiovascular risk in Algerian type 2 diabetic patients.
 Methods: A comparative interventional study was performed in Mascara (north-western Algeria) on patients with type 2 diabetes. All participants were subjected to a physical activity program that consisted of brisk walking sessions during seven months. Anthropometric characteristics, biochemical parameters, physical performance and cardiovascular risk indices were evaluated and compared between the two genders. 
 Results: Fifty-three (22 men and 31 women) type 2 diabetic patients with were involved in the study. The mean age of all participants was 50.86±11.07 years. No difference between the two genders was observed with respect to age, anthropometrics, systolic blood pressure, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and all biochemical parameters and lipid ratios. A gradual decrease in most anthropometric, clinical, biochemical parameters, and blood pressure levels have been disclosed after seven-month (28 weeks) of follow-up of the brisk walking programme. Higher significant decreases (p<0.001) in fasting, post-effort and postprandial blood glycaemia were observed in both genders during all stages of our study. No significant differences were showed on lipid ratios; moreover, the majority of lipid ratios values were within the normal thresholds. The entirely recorded values of VO2max, body mass index (BMI) and heart rate were slightly higher in females comparing to males with both levels of glycated haemoglobin.
 Conclusion: The practice of three brisk walking sessions per week at a rate of 30 minutes each has beneficial impact on anthropometric parameters, biochemical parameters, physical performance, glycaemic control and on the reduction of cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetic patients of both genders.
 Keywords: Brisk walking, Type 2 diabetes, Glycaemic control, Blood parameters, Cardiovascular risk