The effects of walking exercise on glycometabolism, dynamic blood pressure and the quality of life of patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Objective To explore the effects of walking exercise on glycometabolism,dynamic blood pressure and the quality of life of patients with both hypertension and type 2 diabetes on the basis of conventional drug treatment.Methods Sixty-two patients with both hypertension and diabetes who could support taking walking exercise of more than 5,000 steps/d were randomly divided into a walking exercise group (32 cases) and a control group (30 cases).Both groups were given conventional drug treatment (including valsartan,acarbose and metformin).Those in the walking exercise group took more than 10,000 steps/d of aerobic exercise while the patients in the control group were just given normal community care.This continued for a period of 3 months.Fasting plasma glucose (FPG),glycated hemoglobin-A1C (HbA1c),fasting insulin (FINS),the homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistence index (HOMA-IR),the homeostasis model of assessment for insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IS),dynamic blood pressure parameters and quality of life were observed.Results In the walking exercise group,the FPG,HbA1c,FINS,HOMA-IR,HOMA-IS,dynamic blood pressure and quality of life indicators were all significantly different after 3 months of daily walking exercise compared with either baseline or the control group.Conclusion Accompanied by conventional drug therapy,10,000 steps/d of walking exercise can improve the glucose metabolism,dynamic blood pressure and quality of life of patients suffering from mild hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Key words: Walking exercise ; Hypertension ; Diabetes ; Glucose metabolism ; Blood pressure ; Quality of life