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Acute effects of exercise on macro- and microvasculature in individuals with type 1 diabetes - a secondary outcome
Adam Saloň1,2,3, Karin Schmid-Zalaudek1, Bianca Steuber1
1Division of Physiology & Pathophysiology, Otto Loewi Research Centre for Vascular Biology, Immunology, and Inflammation, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Background:
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease associated with insulin-producing beta cell destruction, declining insulin secretion, and elevated blood glucose. Physical activity improves glycaemic control and cardiovascular health. This study explores acute effects of maximal exhaustion induced by a cardiopulmonary exercise on macro- and microvascular parameters in type 1 diabetes.
Methodology:
Twenty-five participants with type 1 diabetes (14 males, 11 females), aged 41.4 ± 11.87 years, BMI 23.7 ± 3.08, completed a repeated-measure study. Measurements pre-, post-, 30- and 60-minutes post-exhaustion involved a maximal incremental cardio-pulmonary exercise test. Macro- and microvascular parameters were assessed using VICORDER® and retinal blood vessel image analysis. Repeated measures ANOVA in SPSS (Version 27.0) analysed data.
Results:
Post-exercise, heart rate increased (p<.001), and diastolic blood pressure decreased (p=.023). Diabetes duration correlated with pulse wave velocity (r=0.418, p=.047), diastolic blood pressure (r=0.470, p=.023), and central retinal arteriolar equivalent (r=0.492, p=.023).
Conclusion:
In type 1 diabetes, cardiopulmonary exercise-induced exhaustion elevates heart rate and reduces diastolic blood pressure. Future research should explore extended, rigorous physical activity protocols for greater cardiovascular risk reduction.
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