Diabetes and life-styles: role of physical exercise for primary prevention

Regular physical exercise has been known to be beneficial in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Epidemiological studies of physical exercise: previous non-randomized studies suggested that a life-style intervention program involving diet and/or exercise reduced the progression of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) to type 2 diabetes. Recent randomized controlled intervention trials also showed that diet and/or exercise intervention led to a significant decrease in the incidence of diabetes among those with IGT. Endocrinological and metabolic effects of exercise: in well controlled diabetic patients, physical exercise promotes utilization of blood glucose and lowers blood glucose levels. On the other hand, in poorly controlled diabetic patients with ketosis, physical exercise results in further rises in blood glucose, free fatty acids and ketone body concentrations. Long-term gentle regular jogging increases insulin action in respect of both carbohydrate and lipid metabolism despite no influence on body mass index or maximal oxygen uptake. A significant correlation was observed between deltaMCR (insulin sensitivity) and average daily steps Our recent data suggested that the improvement of insulin action by physical exercise was attributed, at least in part, to the increase in insulin-sensitive GLUT4 (glucose transporter 4) on the plasma membrane in skeletal muscle. In conclusion, as an adjunct to other forms of therapy, mild regular physical exercise will play an important role in primarily preventing type 2 diabetes.