Effects of aerobic exercise on glucose control and cardiovascular risk factor in type 2 diabetes patients

Aknowledment: This research is based on a master’s thesis under the supervision of the second author at the Faculty of Physical Education of Razi University. Introductoin: Type 2 diabetes is associated with increased cardiovascular risk factors such as: high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, glycated hemoglobin, fasting blood glucose and lack of physical activity. Common type of exercises are aerobic exercises that improve glycemic control, lipid profile and blood glucose. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise on changes of fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetes.

In this study, from patients visiting the Kermanshah Diabetes Association, 16 volunteers participated in the study as subjects and allocated into aerobic (n=8) and control group (n=8), randomly. Training program for the aerobic group included 3 sessions of running per week with 60 to 80% maximal heart rate for 8 weeks. Before and after the intervention, body weight, BMI, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, lipid profile, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and vo2max were measured.

HbA1c, LDL-c, TG and fasting blood glucose were significantly decreased in aerobic group after intervention, but had no significant changes in control group. Vo2max was significantly increased in aerobic group. No significant changes were observed for HDL-c, cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body weight and BMI.

performing 8 weeks of aerobic reduced HbA1c, fasting blood glucose and improved lipid profiles but could not significantly affect blood pressure, body weight andBMI in these patients.