July 2006

Exercise improves type 2 diabetes

A systematic review in the current issue of The Cochrane Library, shows that exercise helps manage type 2 diabetes by regulating blood glucose (sugar) levels, increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin, and decreasing blood lipids (fats) while also helping to burn body fat.

The researchers determined that a prescribed exercise regime versus no exercise regime actually improved blood sugar control by looking at the percent of glycated hemoglobin in the blood, also known as an A1C test. The American Diabetes Association considers A1C values to be the best indicator of long-term blood glucose control.

Participants who exercised had an overall decrease of 0.6 percent of A1C levels which represents a 30 percent improvement towards the goal of attaining an A1C of 7 percent, and a 20 percent improvement towards a normal A1C of 6 percent.

Participants enrolled in an exercise program also lost significantly more fat around the abdominal organs and under the skin, and experienced a significant lowering of blood triglycerides, which are often elevated in patients with diabetes. Excess triglycerides have been linked to coronary artery disease.

The review appears in the current issue of [ITAL]The Cochrane Library, [/ITAL]a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates research in all aspects of healthcare. Systematic reviews draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing trials on a topic.

The study, which reviewed data from 14 randomized controlled trials, included a total of 377 participants. The average age range in studies was 45 to 65 years with slightly more men than women. All participants had type 2 diabetes and the only difference between groups was that they were assigned to either no exercise or to a prescribed exercise regime.

Exercise sessions varied from one to seven times a week, with most studies involving three sessions a week. Sessions lasted from 30 minutes to two hours, with half the studies using hour-long sessions. The studies were short term, ranging from eight weeks to 12 months with most lasting less than six months.

Source: Health Behavior News Service, www.hbns.org

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