Effect of low to moderate intensity walking and cycling on
glycaemic and metabolic control in type 1 diabetes mellitus adolescent males: A
randomized controlled trial
Affiliations: [a] Physical Education Department, King Fahd University of
Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia | [b] College of Medicine, University of Dammam, Al-Khobar,
Saudi Arabia
Note: [] Corresponding author: Rakesh Tomar, Lecturer, Physical Education
Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, PO Box No.
1271, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia. Tel.: +966 556218798; Fax: +966 13 8602028;
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is characterized
by an autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells, i.e., the immune system
destroys the special cells that make and secrete insulin. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of 12 weeks exercise programme on glycaemic and metabolic
control in T1DM adolescents. METHODS: Twenty-four T1DM adolescent males
(12–16 y) were randomised into an exercise (n=12) and control group (n=12). Twelve weeks of
exercise programme was administered to the exercise group.
Two patients, one in each group discontinued training. Training intensity was
40–60% of maximum heart rate for a duration 60 min, 3 times a week. RESULTS: No significant improvement was seen in HbA_{1c} (P=0.598), low
density lipoprotein (P=0.264), high density lipoprotein (P=0.276) and
triglycerides (P=0.490) in the exercise group but significant improvement
was observed in insulin dose (P=0.000) and total cholesterol (P=0.035). CONCLUSIONS: Twelve weeks of closely supervised exercise programme
enhanced reduction in insulin dose and lowered the total cholesterol T1DM
adolescent male and could be recommended as a part of the management of T1DM.
