Determinants of Physical Activity 10 Months Following a Supervised Exercise Program in People With Type 2 Diabetes

Area of Science:

• Exercise physiology
• Metabolic disease management
• Behavioral science

Background:

• Supervised exercise offers health benefits for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D).
• Long-term adherence to exercise programs in T2D populations remains a significant challenge.
• Understanding factors influencing sustained physical activity is crucial for T2D management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors associated with sustained physical activity (PA) 10 months post-supervised exercise in adults with T2D.
• To explore barriers and enablers of self-directed exercise in this population.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-seven adults with T2D participated in an 8-week supervised exercise program (high-intensity interval training vs. moderate-intensity continuous training).
• Participants then engaged in 10 months of self-directed exercise.
• Correlations, multiple regression, and qualitative interviews were used to analyze determinants of PA and exercise barriers/enablers.

Main Results:

• Allocation to combined aerobic and resistance high-intensity interval training independently predicted higher total physical activity at 12 months.
• Average total physical activity at 12 months was 209.4 minutes per week.
• Flexible scheduling and social support were identified as key enablers, while limited equipment access and time conflicts were major barriers.

Conclusions:

• High-intensity interval training may promote long-term physical activity in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
• Interventions should consider flexible scheduling and social support to improve exercise adherence.
• Addressing practical barriers like equipment access and time constraints is essential for sustained exercise engagement.