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Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy
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Impact of high-intensity interval training on HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy volume 20, pages 168–175 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Exercises are often recommended for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to improve physical conditioning and glycemic control.

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in T2DM on a short-term basis (after 12 weeks of training).

Patients and methods

Forty patients women diagnosed with T2DM were selected from the outpatient clinic of Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University; their ages ranged from 55 to 65 years. Patients were assigned randomly to two equal groups (n = 20). Group A, the study group, received HIIT and training by treadmill and group B, the control group, received training by treadmill. Exercise training was performed for 20–38 min for group A and for 20–30 min for group B three times a week for 12 weeks. HbA1c was evaluated before training and after 3 months of training (after training).

Results

There was a statistically significant difference in the two groups in HbA1c, where the mean values for group A before and after treatment were 6.290 ± 0.130 and 5.460 ± 0.092, respectively, and those for group B before and after treatment were 6.405 ± 107 and 6.025 ± 0.156, respectively. Also, there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in HbA1c (P = 0.04), where group A showed greater improvement in HbA1c than group B on a short-term basis.

Conclusion

Regular participation in HIIT was more effective and an alternative to aerobic training in improving HbA1c in T2DM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of aPhysical Therapy for Cardiovascular/Respiratory Disorder and Geriatrics, Cairo, Egypt

    Hany F. Elsisia

  2. Basic Sciences, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, 7 Ahmed Elzayt, Dokki, 12613, Giza, Egypt

    Yasser M. Aneisb

  3. Department of Physical Therapy for Cardiovascular/ Respiratory Disorder and Geriatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Pharos University, Alexandria, Egypt

    Khaled M. Mounirc

Authors
  1. Hany F. Elsisia
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  2. Yasser M. Aneisb
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Correspondence to Yasser M. Aneisb.

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Elsisia, H.F., Aneisb, Y.M. & Mounirc, K.M. Impact of high-intensity interval training on HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Bull Fac Phys Ther 20, 168–175 (2015). https://doi.org/10.4103/1110-6611.174710

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/1110-6611.174710

Keyword

  • HbA1c
  • high-intensity interval training
  • type 2 diabetes mellitus