Pilates-Based Mat Exercises and Parameters of Quality of Life in Women With Type 2 Diabetes

Physical exercises increase quality of life (QoL) in diabetics. However, the optimal exercise type for patients with diabetes has not yet been established. It is unknown whether pilates is a suitable form of exercise for the QoL of patients with diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of Pilates-based mat exercise (PBME) on glycemic control, anxiety, depression, and QoL in women with type 2 diabetes. This prospective and randomized study was conducted with 24 women in the Pilates group and 21 women in the control group. Socio demographic data were collected from both groups, including the duration of diabetes since diagnosis, medications being taken, insulin injections, sleep problems, and so on, as well as hospital records of blood laboratory test outcomes (fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose, and glycosylated hemoglobin). Pain and fatigue symptoms were assessed using the visual analogue scale. Participants completed the 36-item short form health survey and the hospital anxiety depression scale. Participants in the exercise group performed PBME three times per week for 12 weeks. Both groups continued their routine diet and medical follow-ups during the intervention. Data from the groups were compared before and after the program. Pain (3.00 ± 4.00, 2.00 ± 2.00, P = 0.001), fatigue (5.00 ± 2.00, 4.00 ± 1.00, P = 0.0001), mental health-related QoL (29.00 ± 5.00, 35.00 ± 3.00, P = 0.0001), anxiety (8.00 ± 3.00, 7.00 ± 3.00, P = 0.023), depression (9.00 ± 2.00, 8.00 ± 2.00, P = 0.019), fasting blood glucose (140.00 ± 31.00, 139.5 ± 32.00, P = 0.026), and glycosylated hemoglobin values (6.70 ± 1.16, 6.30±1.00, P = 0.001) in the Pilates group differed before and after the intervention. In the control group, only glycosylated hemoglobin values (6.53 ± 1.42, 6.40 ± 1.27, P = 0.008) differed before and after the intervention. PBMEs affect the parameters of QoL in women with type 2 diabetes, and they might be recommended as a part of their treatment program.