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Review
. 2014 Dec;14(6):673-6.
doi: 10.7861/clinmedicine.14-6-673.

Diabetes and exercise

Alistair Lumb  1
Affiliations
Review

Diabetes and exercise

Alistair Lumb. Clin Med (Lond). 2014 Dec.

Abstract

Exercise has a beneficial effect on metabolic parameters affecting cardiovascular risk, such as lipids and blood glucose, and is a key component in both the prevention and the management of type 2 diabetes. Glycaemic control improves with both aerobic and resistance exercise in type 2 diabetes, but no glycaemic benefit is seen in type 1 diabetes. This probably results from glucose fluctuations commonly seen with exercise. Low and moderate intensity exercise are generally associated with a fall in blood glucose, and high intensity exercise can be associated with a rise in blood glucose. Trial evidence is suggestive of a reduction in cardiovascular risk with exercise, although evidence from prospective, randomised controlled trials is certainly not conclusive.

Keywords: Exercise; physical activity; type 1 diabetes; type 2 diabetes.

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