Standardization of a Treadmill Exercise Intensity Protocol in Rats with Diabetes Mellitus

The aim of this study was to propose a standardization model of physical conditioning for diabetic rats from the classification of the intensity of the exercise in levels of speed training. Twenty-four male Wistar rats (229.92 ± 28.13 g, 95.08 ± 9.04 mg∙dL-1 ) were divided into 4 groups: (a) Sedentary Diabetic Group (SDG); (b) Diabetic Group Treadmill (DGT); (c) Sedentary Control Group (SCG); and (d) Control Group Treadmill (CGT). The standardization of physical fitness was classified by exercise intensity (very light, mild, moderate, intense, very intense, and maximum) during the treadmill maximum stress test (TEM The animals of the DGT and CGT were submitted to exercise on treadmill, 1 hr∙d-1 5 d∙wk-1 for 5 wks under moderate intensity reassessed TEM 48 hrs after the last exercise session. After 12 days of induction of diabetes, the physical conditioning of diabetic and healthy rats was standardized at 19.58 ± 4.15 m∙min-1 , verified after 5 wks of physical fitness training increase in the DGT vs. SDG (P = 0.006) and reduction of DGT vs. CGT (P = 0.049). The findings indicate that the standardization of exercise intensity in diabetic rats under moderate intensity was adequate for the gain in physical fitness similar to healthy animals.