Effect of High Intensity Interval Training on Blood Glucose Levels in Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract Background: Patients with type 2 diabetes are at signifi-cantly increased risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality compared with age-matched healthy control subjects. Aim of Study: Was to determine the effect of high intensity interval training on blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes. Subject and Methods: Forty diabetic patients of both sexes (12 males and 28 females). They were assigned into two groups equal in number. All patients were diagnosed clinically with established T2DM for more than 7-year duration. Their ages ranged from 45 to 55 years selected from outpatient clinic of Kasr El-Aini, Cairo University, Egypt. Study group with mean age (51.07±3.31) years. and Control group with mean age (51.36±  2.83 ) years. The study group included 20 patients (7 males and 13 females) who practiced high intensity interval training at intensity level of (85-90% of MHR), three times per week for 12 weeks in addition to their optimized oral hypoglycemic medications. Symptom limited exercise test was performed before and after training (12 weeks) to determine maximum heart rate. The control group included 20 patients (5 males 15 females) who only received their optimized oral hypoglycemic medications. Fasting and post prandial blood glucose were measured initially before starting the treatment and after the end of the sessions in both groups. Results: Post-treatment there were a significant improve-ment in both fating and two hours post prandial blood glucose. There were a significant decrease in fasting and two hours post prandial blood glucose. Conclusion: The high intensity interval training is an effective tool to decrease insulin resistance and hyperglycemia this effect is mediated, in part, by the decrease in fasting and two hours post prandial blood glucose in type 2 diabetic patients which consequently helps in the treatment type 2 diabetes.