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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2019 Oct 28;16(21):4163.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph16214163.

High-Intensity Interval Training Versus Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training in Middle-Aged and Older Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial of the Acute Effects of Treadmill Walking on Glycemic Control

Romeu Mendes  1   2   3 , Nelson Sousa  4   5 , José Luís Themudo-Barata  6   7 , Victor Machado Reis  8   9
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

High-Intensity Interval Training Versus Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training in Middle-Aged and Older Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial of the Acute Effects of Treadmill Walking on Glycemic Control

Romeu Mendes et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to compare the acute effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) versus moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on glycemic control in middle-aged and older patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), using treadmill walking as aerobic exercise mode.

Methods: Fifteen patients with T2D (60.25 ± 3.14 years; glycated hemoglobin 7.03 ± 0.33%; medicated with metformin and/or gliptins), participated in a randomized controlled crossover trial. They underwent three experimental conditions (treadmill walking HIIT session (5 × (3 min at 70% of heart rate reserve (HRR) + 3 min at 30% HRR)); treadmill walking MICT session (30 min at 50% HRR); and a control session of rest (CON)) in random order and in the postprandial state. Measurements of capillary blood glucose (BG) were taken immediately before, during, and until 50 min after the experimental conditions.

Results: Both HIIT and MICT treadmill walking sessions reduced BG levels during exercise and laboratory 50 min recovery period compared to CON (time*condition interaction effect; p < 0.001). The effect of HIIT was greater compared with MICT (p = 0.017).

Conclusions: Treadmill walking HIIT seems a safe and more effective exercise strategy on immediate acute glycemic control compared with MICT in middle-aged and older patients with T2D under therapy with metformin and/or gliptins.

Trial registration number: ISRCTN09240628.

Keywords: acute effects; crossover trial; exercise; glycemic control; high-intensity interval training; physical activity; type 2 diabetes; walking.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The founding sponsors had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sample flow chart.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Time sequence of laboratory procedures. Drop of blood: capillary blood glucose monitoring; Apple: meal; Walking individual: exercise session.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Capillary blood glucose values (mg/dL) during laboratory procedures: fasting state; immediately before (baseline), during (10, 20 and 30 min), and immediately after the experimental conditions (40 min); and during recovery periods (50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 min). CON: control; HIIT: high intensity interval training; MICT: moderate intensity continuous training. A significant time*condition interaction effect (two-way ANOVA with repeated measures) was identified for BG values evolution (F = 11.783; p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.517). Significant differences were observed (post-hoc analysis with Bonferroni adjustments) between HIIT and CON (p < 0.001), between MICT and CON (p < 0.001), and between HIIT and MICT (p = 0.017).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Capillary blood glucose values (mg/dL) during ambulatory follow-up periods: before each meal and next day fasting state. CON: control; HIIT: high intensity interval training; MICT: moderate intensity continuous training. No significant time*condition interaction effect (two-way ANOVA with repeated measures) was identified for BG values evolution (F = 0.348; p = 0.944; ηp2 = 0.031).
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References

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