AEROBIC AND RESISTANCE TRAINING SHOW DIVERGENT ASSOCIATIONS WITH INSULIN SENSITIVITY AND SHORT-TERM GLYCEMIC EXPOSURE...

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Metabolic Health
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Prediabetes is a critical stage for intervention to prevent type 2 diabetes.
• Physical activity is vital for prediabetes management, but its short-term glycemic impact is not well-captured by HbA1c.
• Serum fructosamine offers a more responsive biomarker for short-term glycemic control in prediabetic populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the link between physical activity and short-term glycemic control (serum fructosamine) in adults with prediabetes.
• To investigate the differential effects of aerobic, resistance, and combined exercise on glycemic indices, body composition, and insulin sensitivity.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study of 78 prediabetic adults (aged 18-65) in Ajman, UAE.
• Participants were categorized by physical activity levels using the IPAQ-SF.
• Measurements included anthropometrics, glucose, HbA1c, insulin, HOMA-IR, and serum fructosamine.

Main Results:

• The cohort was predominantly male (73.1%) and overweight/obese (82.1%).
• No significant differences in glycemic markers or BMI were found between active and sedentary groups.
• Aerobic exercisers showed lower BMI and insulin but higher fructosamine; however, these effects were not significant in multivariable models. Male sex and BMI were key determinants of insulin resistance.

Conclusions:

• Self-reported physical activity did not significantly impact glycemic control in this prediabetic cohort, possibly due to misclassification.
• Exploratory findings suggest potential benefits of aerobic exercise for insulin sensitivity and resistance training for glycemic exposure.
• Further research with larger sample sizes and adjusted fructosamine measurements is needed to confirm exercise modality effects.