Work

Body-weight functional exercise promotes greater and safer blood glucose reduction compared to aerobic and strength exercises in type 1 diabetics: a randomised crossover study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Aerobic and strength exercises are commonly recommended for patients with type-1 diabetes (T1DM) but may not suit everyone. Body-weight functional exercise (BWFE) could offer an alternative for diabetes management. We aimed to compare blood glucose (BG), cardiovascular responses and enjoyment levels following a 30-min session of BWFE versus interval aerobic exercise (IAE) and strength exercise (STE) in patients with T1DM. Ten T1DM participants (seven female) completed three randomised exercise sessions. BG, heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP) and double product (DP) were measured before (PRE), immediately after (POST-0) and 20 min post-exercise (POST-20). Maximum and average HR were recorded, and enjoyment levels (EL) were assessed post-exercise. Statistical analysis used generalised estimated equations, with minimal detectable difference for assessing clinical significance. We observed clinically meaningful reductions in BG after all sessions, but only BWFE showed a statistically significant drop at POST-0 (−2.2 mmol/L) without hypoglycaemia. HR, BP and DP responses were similar across sessions. BWFE showed the highest EL and maximal HR. BWFE effectively lowered BG safely and provided comparable cardiovascular effects to IAE and STE while being more enjoyable. These findings support incorporating functional exercises into T1DM management to encourage sustained physical activity. • Body-weight functional exercise sessions lead to greater and safer reductions in post-exercise glucose levels. • Cardiovascular responses are similar across exercise types, but the body-weight functional sessions are more enjoyable. • Tailored exercise recommendations may be beneficial for individuals with type-1 diabetes.

Source: Journal of Diabetes and its Complications

DOI: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2025.109043

Authors: Pooya Soltani, Fernanda Mendes Almeida, Hildene Carneiro de Castro Melo, Guilherme Bruno Santiago Ferreira, Leiticiany Melo dos Santos, Jorge Luiz de Brito Gomes

Institutions: University of Salford, Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco

Language: English

Topic: Diabetes Management and Research

Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,760