Stair climbing/descending exercise for a short time decreases blood glucose levels after a meal in participants with type 2 diabetes. Issue 1 (25th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Honda, Hiroto; Igaki, Makoto; Hatanaka, Yuki; Komatsu, Motoaki; Tanaka, Shin-ichiro; Miki, Tetsuo; Suzuki, Taiga; Takaishi, Tetsuo; Hayashi, Tatsuya
• Is Part Of: BMJ open diabetes research and care. Volume 4:Issue 1(2016)
• Publication Date: 2016-07-25
• Subjects: Exercise -- Type 2 Diabetes -- Skeletal Muscle Metabolism -- Postprandial Blood Glucose; Diabetes -- Periodicals; 616.462005
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjdrc-2016-000232
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2052-4897

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: We examined whether stair climbing–descending exercise (ST-EX), a convenient method to increase physical activity in daily life, for a short period would acutely improve the postprandial blood glucose (BG) response in participants with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: 16 participants with T2D (age 65.4±1.1 years) participated in 2 separate sessions. After an overnight fast, each participant consumed a test meal and then kept resting for 180 min, except when performing each 3 min bout of ST-EX at 60 and 120 min after the meal (ST-EX session), or kept resting for 180 min (REST session). ST-EX comprised 6 continuous repetitions of climbing to the second floor (21 steps) at a rate of 80–110 steps/min followed by walking down slowly to the first floor at a free step rate. Results: The BG at 60 min after the meal during the ST-EX session (immediately before the first ST-EX) did not differ from that during the REST session, but analysis of variance revealed a significant interaction between time and treatment (p<0.01). The BG at 150 min after the meal (30 min after the second ST-EX) was significantly lower than that during the REST session (p<0.01). The area under the curve was also 18% lower during the ST-EX session than during the REST session (p<0.05). The heart rate and blood lactate levels indicated that the actual intensity of ST-EX was 'hard'. In contrast, the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) indicated that the overall intensity of ST-EX was 'moderate' because of decreased RPE scores during descent. Conclusions: The present findings suggest that performing 3 min ST-EX 60 and 120 min after a meal may be a useful strategy to accelerate the decrease in postprandial BG levels in participants with T2D.