[Exercise in elderly NIDDM]

The clinical evaluation of exercise in elderly NIDDM was investigated with the following. Based on the questionnares filled in by 508 patients with NIDDM regarding whether they had regular exercise for treatment of diabetes mellitus or not, 53.4% and 41.4% of NIDDM men obtained regular exercise in the 30-40 and 50-59 age groups, respectively. On the other hand, the figures for the 60-69 and over 70 age groups were 67.0% and 73.3%, respectively. From these data, regular exercise in elderly NIDDM men was significantly more frequent than in middle aged NIDDM men. No similar tendency in NIDDM women was found. Regular exercise as a therapeutic approach was lowest in the insulin group compared to other types of therapy. We investigated heart rate pressure product, work rate, volume of oxygen uptake at anaerobic threshold (AT) during exercise on bicycle ergometer. These parameters in elderly NIDDM men and women aged over 60 were significantly lower compared to young and middle aged cases of NIDDM. But these clinical parameters at the anaerobic threshold (AT) after exercise training were significantly improved in work rate and blood pressure as compared to data before exercise training. We compared the effects of exercise at an intensity of AF for 30 minutes on glucose metabolism between middle aged and elderly NIDDM. Levels of blood glucose in elderly NIDDM after exercise was not changed, whereas that in middle aged NIDDM after exercise was significantly decreased. From the present study, many clinical differences were seen between elderly and young NIDDM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)