Effects of aerobic physical exercise in the elderly with type 2 diabetes mellitus

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of an aerobic physi cal exercise program in the treatment of a group of elderly patients with t ype 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in relation to metabolic control, physical cap acity, quality of life (QOL) and attitudes toward diabetes. Patients were r andomly assigned to either an experimental (n = 19) or a control (n = 20) g roup. The following measurements were conducted at baseline and after week 16: glycosylated hemoglobin (hbA1c), fructosamine, 3 h oral glucose toleran ce test, treadmill test (Balke-Naughton), and a questionnaire on QOL and at titudes toward DM. After the intervention, the experimental group showed a significant decrease of glucose excursion during the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) (area under the curve) (16.6+/-3.8 vs. 15.3 +/- 3.1, P < 0.05) and an increase in total time on the treadmill (s) (423 +/- 207 vs. 471 +/ - 230, P < 0.05). An improvement in the attitudes toward DM was observed in the experimental group (P = 0.01) but not in the control group. Female gen der, higher body mass index and hbA1c were factors associated with a respon se to the intervention. This study suggests that physical exercise has sign ificant effects on glucose excursion during an OGTT and exercise tolerance in elderly patients with type 2 DM. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.