[The effect of walking exercise on aerobic capacity and serum lipids in type 2 diabetics]

Regular physical activity can have a favourable impact on other risk factors of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and associated diabetes (DM), such as obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance and others. This important part of treatment of diabetes is frequently difficult to implement because of the lack of willingness ("adherence") of type 2 diabetics to practice regular exercise, and unequivocal data are lacking on the intensity of exercise which will influence effectively these risk factors and be at the same time safe, readily available and psychologically acceptable. The objective of the work was to find out whether walking, i.e. locomotor activity with a low to medium intensity can effectively influence parameters of aerobic capacity and blood lipids. The authors submit the results of two groups of type 2 diabetics. The experimental group B (n = 10, age 57 +/- 7 years, BMI 31 +/- 3, duration of DM 8 +/- 5 years) participated in a 12-week training programme of walking; at the beginning and at the end of this period indicators of aerobic capacity at the level of the anaerobic threshold (VO2ANP) were evaluated as well as at the level of the symptom limited maximum (VO2SL, TepO2SL), and the blood lipid levels. In the control group A (n = 6, age 58 +/- 7 years, BMI 32 +/- 4) indicators of aerobic capacity and blood lipids were assessed after a 12-week period of the usual habitual physical activity. In group B the 12-week walking training led to significant improvement of parameters of aerobic capacity at the level of the anaerobic threshold (ANP), oxygen pulse at the level of the symptom limits maximum (SL) and a significant reduction of total and LDL cholesterol. In the control group no significant changes occurred in aerobic capacity nor blood lipid values. The training programme where walking was selected as physical activity with a low to medium intensity can be considered suitable for everyday life of motivated patients with type 2 diabetics, preferably in the form of a domestic training programme. The prerequisite of success is its regular and frequent evaluation by health professionals.