Effects of Exercise on Glycemic Control in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Kim, Duk Hee; Park, Dae Young; Shin, Hae Jung; Choi, Kwan Sik

Abstract

PURPOSE: Exercise is frequently recommended in the management of diabetes mellitus(DM) and can improve blood control by increasing insulin sensitivity and psychological benefits. Exercise can result in good glycemic control in type 2 DM, when combined with diet and drug therapy. However, in type 1 DM, the expected improvement in glycemic control with exercise have not been clearly established. Effects of exercise on glycemic control in patients with type 1 DM were investigated.
METHODS
20 patients with of type 1 DM, who were no retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy and cardiac disorders, were enrolled and exercised for 30min. with 50% of individualized maximum VO2. Blood sugar concentration were measured before, immediate and 15min after exercise. The results were evaluated with HbA1c, C-peptide and DM duration.
RESULTS
Blood sugar concentration were significantly decreased from pre-exercise 198+/-9.7mg/dL to immediate 145+/-7.1mg/dL and at 15min. Post-exercise 134+/-4.0mg/dL(P<0.05). In case with HbA1c<10%, there was significantly decreased in blood sugar level from pre-exercise 176+/-9.7mg/dL to immediate 123+/-63.2mg/dL and at 15min post-exercise 113+/-1.9mg/dL(P<0.05). In case with HbA1c>10% there was also significantly decreased in blood sugar levels 222+/-64.7mg/dL, 169+/-6.1mg/dL, 157+/-1.2mg/dL respectively(P<0.05). Group with moderate decreased blood sugar(40-99mg/dL) was 8 patients(42.1%), group with mild decreased blood sugar(<40mg/dL) was 7 patients(36.8%) and group with decreased more than 100mg/dL was 4 patients(21.5%). There was no correlation in degree of decreased blood sugar concentration among HbA1c, C-peptide, DM duration.
CONCLUSION
Proper exercise in type 1 diabetic children can decrease blood sugar level significantly and make good glycemic control and can decrease DM microvascular complications in addition to motivating physically active lifestyle.