Effect of Different HIIT Protocols on the Glycemic Control and Lipids Profile in Men with type 2 diabetes: A Randomize Control Trial

 High intensity interval training (HIITs) can induce weight control, lowering blood pressure and beneficial effects on cardiovascular health in type 2 diabetic patients. The effect of different volumes of these exercises is unclear in type 2 diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of low volume and high volume of short-term intensive training on glycemic indexes of men with type 2 diabetes.

Thirty type 2 diabetes male patients who were referred to Yazd diabetes research center (30 - 46 years old) were selected and randomly divided into 3 groups of low and high volume HIITs groups and control group. The intensity of the exercises in low volume was up to 110% and in high volume up to 80% of the maximum heart rate. The two training groups performed exercises 3 days of week for 8 weeks. Glycemic factors and lipids profile were measured before and after the last training session. Data were analyzed by covariance and paired T-test.

Low volume HIIT exercises significantly decreased the glucose (P-value: 0.01), HbA1c (P-value: 0.01), insulin (P-value: 0.005), insulin resistance (P-value: 0.001), and triglyceride (P-value: 0.04). Low volume HIIT in the insulin resistance had a significant difference with the control group (P-value: 0.04). High density lipoprotein in high volume group had a significant difference with the control group (P-value: 0.021).

Low-volume HIIT exercises can be a non-pharmacological approach to improving glycemic factors in type 2 diabetic patients.