Three new studies confirm the benefits of exercise in people with diabetes, both in glucose control and cardiovascular health.

• Austrian researchers reported that patients with type 1 diabetes who participated in a bicycle exercise training program had improvements in their endothelial functioning (the endothelium is the lining of the arteries and is thought to be a factor in the development of artery disease). The improved vascular functioning was not maintained when they stopped exercising.

• Sedentary, overweight, older patients with type 2 diabetes took part in a high-intensity progressive resistance training program in combination with a weight loss program. At three and six months, they showed improved glycemic control through lower HbA1c. They also showed improved muscular strength.

• A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association describes a comprehensive literature search for evidence relating exercise training to cardiovascular health of people with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Researchers found the strongest evidence for the benefits of exercise training in endothelial function and also in the functioning of the left ventricle of the heart. Data on the improvement of arterial stiffness and inflammation, and for reducing the size of the heart’s left ventricle, are less robust. The report also cites evidence that exercise training reduces total and abdominal fat, changes that lead to improvements in insulin sensitivity and blood pressure. Improved insulin sensitivity means that the body uses the insulin it produces more efficiently, while lowering blood pressure is highly desirable in preventing cardiovascular complications of diabetes.

Related information: Lifestyle - Exercise | Fitness Channel

Sources:

• Fuchsjager-Mayrl G, Pleiner J, Wiesinger GF, et al. Exercise training improves vascular endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care, Oct. 1, 2002;25:1795-1801. (Abs.)
• Dunstan DW, Daly RD, Owen N, et al. High intensity resistance training improves glycemic control in older patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care, Oct. 1, 2002;25:1729-1736. (Abs.)
• Stewart KJ. Exercise training and the cardiovascular consequences on type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Journal of the American Medical Association, Oct. 2, 2002;288(13):1622-1631. (Abs.)