Exercise alone may improve diabetics' blood glucose levels

AORN Journal,  Sept, 2007  

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Blood glucose levels in adults with type 2 diabetes may be improved twice as much when focus is put solely on increasing exercise levels rather than on trying to change exercise, diet, and medication adherence at the same time, according to a June 14, 2007, news release from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Diabetes can result in serious complications, including heart attacks, kidney disease, and need for limb amputation.

Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 103 research reports that included 10,455 patients with diabetes and compared exercise-only interventions with interventions targeting multiple diabetes self-management behaviors. Increasing physical activity alone improved blood glucose levels equally among participants no matter how overweight or how poor their levels were at the start of the studies. Both young and older adults received similar benefits, but women did not experience as significant a drop in blood glucose levels as men. The researchers hypothesized that people became overwhelmed when asked to make multiple changes simultaneously but found it easier to concentrate on changing one behavior at a time.

Study finds consensus: exercise helps people with diabetes [news release]. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri-Columbia; June 14, 2007.

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