Original StudyPostprandial Walking is Better for Lowering the Glycemic Effect of Dinner than Pre-Dinner Exercise in Type 2 Diabetic Individuals
Section snippets
Methods
A total of 12 older subjects (6 female, 6 male) with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes treated with diet and/or a variety of oral diabetic medications participated in this study. Before their participation, each subject signed an informed consent form approved by the Institutional Review Board at Old Dominion University. Medical personnel involved with the study initially screened subjects for the presence of diabetic complications (ie, any neuropathy-related changes, diagnosed kidney disease,
Results
The subjects averaged 61.4 ± 2.7 years of age, with no significant difference in age between males and females, as shown in Table 1 along with their other resting characteristics. Males had a lower mean body mass index than females (P < .05). The mean duration of type 2 diabetes was 11.3 ± 2.1 years, and overall blood glucose control as measured by glycated hemoglobin was considered marginally adequate (7.0% ± 0.3%), as the target goal of the American Diabetes Association is a value of 7% or lower,3
Discussion
The current study examined the glycemic effects of 20 minutes of self-paced, mild to moderate walking done either immediately before or shortly after eating the same dinner. Walking after meal consumption resulted in lower plasma glucose levels at the end of exercise compared to values at the same time point when subjects had walked pre-dinner.
The blunting effect of postprandial exercise on blood glucose elevations has been well established.1, 2, 4, 5, 6 Moderate intensity exercise done 2 hours
Conclusion
In summary, it appears that 20 minutes of self-paced mild to moderate intensity walking may be more beneficial for controlling postprandial glycemia in type 2 diabetic individuals when undertaken shortly after an evening meal rather than immediately beforehand. Postprandial hyperglycemia is an established cardiovascular risk factor14 and oxidative damage resulting from such glycemic excursions is a factor in the development of diabetic complications that may be moderated by exercise.15
Acknowledgments
Our thanks go to Ushasri Kotipalli, MS, and Ramya Gandrakota, MS, for their excellent assistance with data collection.
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This work was fully supported by a clinical research grant from the Lifescan, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson Company.