Gender difference in metabolic responses to surface electrical muscle stimulation in type 2 diabetes

The aim of this study was to examine whether or not there is a gender difference in metabolic responses to surface electrical muscle stimulation (sEMS) in type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Ten men and eight women with T2DM participated in two sessions; in both sessions the subjects were investigated after a breakfast and that in one occasion they underwent 30-min sEMS while in the other they were followed while resting. Blood and gas exchange data were compared between genders as to the extent of blood glucose and non-esterified fatty acids responses to sEMS.

The time course change of blood glucose concentration after sEMS did not statistically differ between genders while sEMS could attenuate postprandial blood glucose level regardless of gender (p<0.05). Women had a lower respiratory quotient and lactate concentration during sEMS when compared with men (p<0.05).

This study indicated that sEMS might have resulted in lower anaerobic glycolysis in women as compared to men with T2DM. sEMS is expected to be a new exercise method in T2DM. Determining the possible gender differences and precise mechanisms might further shed some light for the efficacy of sEMS use for clinical practice.