Performing Resistance Exercise Prior to Aerobic Exercise Results in Higher Growth Hormone Levels during Exercise in Physically Active Individuals with Well‐Controlled Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract

BackgroundPerforming resistance exercise before aerobic exercise (rather than the reverse) can protect against exercise‐induced hypoglycemia in physically active well‐controlled individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Growth hormone (GH) is a potential mediator of this phenomenon as it promotes lipolysis, thereby sparing blood glucose.PurposeThis research aimed to determine whether GH secretion is affected by the order in which resistance (R) and aerobic (A) exercise are performed in people with T1D.MethodsOn separate days, 6 physically active participants with T1D (HbA1c 7.0±1.0%) either ran on a treadmill for 45‐min prior to performing 45‐min of weight lifting (AR) or performed the resistance exercise before running (RA).ResultsGH (mean±SE) rose only transiently in AR, but the rise was larger and more sustained in RA. Differences between sessions were statistically significant for the last 30‐min of exercise (mean at 60 minutes: AR = 2.86±1.03 vs RA = 5.86±1.91 μg/L; at 75 minutes: AR = 1.98±0.78 vs RA = 7.17±2.54 μg/L; at 90 minutes: AR = 1.98±0.82 vs RA = 6.67±2.51 μg/L.ConclusionGH patterns are consistent with this hormone being a mediator in the stabilization of blood glucose levels when aerobic exercise is performed subsequent to resistance exercise in habitually active individuals with T1D. Supported by the Canadian Diabetes Association and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.