Glycaemic control is improved by 7 days of aerobic exercise training in patients with type 2 diabetes

Aims/hypothesis Cardiovascular events and death are better predicted by postprandial glucose (PPG) than by fasting blood glucose or HbA 1c . While chronic exercise reduces HbA 1c in patients with type 2 diabetes, short-term exercise improves measures of insulin sensitivity but does not consistently alter responses to the OGTT. The purpose of this study was to determine whether short-term exercise training improves PPG and glycaemic control in free-living patients with type 2 diabetes, independently of the changes in fitness, adiposity and energy balance often associated with chronic exercise training. Methods Using continuous glucose monitors, PPG was quantified in previously sedentary patients with type 2 diabetes not using exogenous insulin ( n = 13, age 53 ± 2 years, HbA 1c 6.6 ± 0.2% (49.1 ± 1.9 mmol/mol)) during 3 days of habitual activity and during the final 3 days of a 7 day aerobic exercise training programme (7D-EX) which does not elicit measurable changes in cardiorespiratory fitness or body composition. Diet was standardised across monitoring periods, with modifications during 7D-EX to offset increases in energy expenditure. OGTTs were performed on the morning following each monitoring period. Results 7D-EX attenuated PPG ( p