Skip to main content
Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy
Download PDF

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.

References

  1. Berry C, Tardif JC, Bourassa MG. Coronary heart disease in patients with diabetes: part I: recent advances in prevention and noninvasive management. J Am Coll Cardiol 2007; 49:631–642.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Jonsson B. Revealing the cost of type 2 diabetes in Europe. Diabetologia 2002; 45: S5–S12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Colberg SR. Encouraging patients to be physically active: what busy practitioners need to know, Clin Diab 2008; 26:123–127.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Burgomaster KA, Cermak NM, Phillips SM, Benton CR, Bonen A, Gibala, MJ. Divergent response of metabolite transport proteins in human skeletal muscle after sprint interval training and detraining. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2007; 292:R1970–R1976.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Warburton DE, McKenzie DC, Haykowski MJ, Taylor A, Shoemaker P, Ignaszewski AP, Chan SY Effectiveness of high-intensity interval training for the rehabilitation of patients with coronary artery disease. Am J Cardiol 2005; 95:1080–1084.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Babraj J, Vollaard N, Keast C, Guppy F, Cottrell G, Timmons J. Extremely short duration high intensity interval training substantially improves insulin action in young healthy males. BMC Endocr Disord 2009; 9:3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Holten MK, Zacho M, Gaster M, Juel C, Wojtaszewski JF, Dela F. Strength training increases insulin-mediated glucose uptake, GLUT4 content, and insulin signaling in skeletal muscle in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes 2004; 53:294–305.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Saritas N. Effect of endurance exercise training on blood lipids in young men. Afr J Pharma Pharmacol 2012; 6:216–220.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Misra A, Alappan NK, Vikram NK, Goel K, Gupta N, Mittal K, et al. Effect of supervised progressive resistance exercise training protocol on insulin sensitivity, glycemia, lipids and body composition in Asian Indians with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 2008; 31:1282–1287.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Welkowitz J, Ewen RB, Cohen J. Introductory statistics for the behavioral sciences. 3rd ed. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich; 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Jones RL, Nzekwu MM. The effects of body mass index on lung volumes. Chest 2006; 130:827–833.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Little J, Safdar A, Bishop D, Tarnopolsky M, Gibala, M. An acute bout of high-intensity interval training increases the nuclear abundance of PGC-1α and activates mitochondrial biogenesis in human skeletal muscle. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2011; 300:1303–1310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Karvonen MJ, Kentala E, Mustalo O. The effects of training on heat rate; a longitudinal study. Ann Med Exp Biol Fenn 1957; 35:307–315.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Narayan KM, Gregg EW, Engelgau MM, Moore B, Thomson TJ, Williamson DF, Vinicor F. Translation research for chronic disease: the case of diabetes. Diabetes Care 2000; 23:1794–1798.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Wei Y, Chen K, Whaley-Connell AT, Stump CS, Ibdah JA, Sowers JR. Insulin resistance and cardiometabolic syndrome: adipose tissue and skeletal muscle factors. Skeletal muscle insulin resistance: role of inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2008; 294:673–680.

    Google Scholar 

  16. American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes. Diabetes Care 2010; 33:S11–S61.

  17. Naomi B, Jennifer E, Patricia L, Ronenn R, Miriam E, Carmen C. Strength training improves muscle quality and insulin sensitivity in Hispanic older adults with type 2 diabetes. Int J Med Sci 2007; 4:19–27.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Andrew J, Nigel T. New insight into the mechanism by which acute physical exercise ameliorates insulin resistance. J Physiol 2008; 586:2251–2252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Boutcher SH. High-intensity intermittent exercise and fat loss. J Obes 2010; 2011:1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Trapp EG, Chisholm DJ, Freund J, Boutcher SH. The effects of high-intensity intermittent exercise training on fat loss and fasting insulin levels of young women. Int J Obes 2008; 32:684–691.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Boudou P, Sobngwi E, Mauvais-Jarvis F, Vexiau P, Gautier J-F. Absence of exercise-induced variations in adiponectin levels despite decreased abdominal adiposity and improved insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic men. Eur J Endocrinol 2003; 149:421–424.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Larose J, Sigal RJ, Boule NG, Wells GA, Prud’homme D, Fortier MS, et al.. Effect of exercise training on physical fitness in type II diabetes mellitus. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2010; 42:1439–1447.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Bassuk SS, Manson JE. Epidemiological evidence for the role of physical activity in reducing risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. J Appl Physiol 2005; 99:1193–1204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Mikus CR, Oberlin DJ, Libla JL, Taylor AM, Booth FW, Thyfault JP. Lowering physical activity impairs glycemic control in healthy volunteers. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2012; 44:225–231.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Azizi M, Baledi R. The comparison effect of aerobic and resistance training on regional and abdominal fat reduction and some of the heart risk factors among 30 to 45 years old healthy females. Int J Collab Res Int Med Public Health 2012; 4:309–316.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Praet SF, van Loon LJV. Optimizing the therapeutic benefits of exercise in type 2 diabetes. J Appl Physiol 2007; 103:1113–1120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Colberg SR, Sigal RJ, Fernhall B, Regensteiner JG, Blissmer BJ, Rubin RR, et al. Exercise and type 2 diabetes: the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Diabetes Association: joint position statement. Diabetes Care 2010; 33:e147–e167.

  28. Willey K, Fiatarone-Singh M. Battling insulin resistance in elderly obese people with type 2 diabetes: bring on the heavy weights. Diabetes Care 2003; 26:1580–1588.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Casey I, Nicholas F. Progressive resistance exercise improves glycaemic control in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review. Aust J Physiother 2009; 55:237–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Sayer AA, Dennison EM, Syddall HE, Gilbody HJ, Phillips DI, Cooper C Type 2 diabetes, muscle strength, and impaired physical function: the tip of the iceberg?. Diabetes Care 2005; 28:2541–2542.

  31. Yki-Jarvinen H, Dela F. Exercise in the treatment of type 2 and type 1 diabetes. Textbook of Sports Medicine. Basic Science and Clinical Aspects of Sports Injury and Physical Activity, 6th ed., Oxford, U.K., Blackwell Science; 2003. p. 435–450.

  32. Kelley DE, Goodpaster BH, Storlien L. Muscle triglyceride and insulin resistance. Annu Rev Nutr 2002; 22:325–346.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Cauza E, Hanusch-Enserer U, Strasser B, Ludvik B, Metz-Schimmerl S, Pacini G, et al. The relative benefits of endurance and strength training on the metabolic factors and muscle function of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2005; 86:1527–1533.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Anderssen SA, Cooper AR, Riddoch C, Saedinha LB, Harro M, Brage S, Andersen LB Low cardiorespiratory fitness is a strong predictor for clustering of cardiovascular disease risk factors in children independent of country, age and sex. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil 2007; 14:526–531.

  35. Durham WJ, Miller SL, Yeckel CW, Chinkes DL, Tipton KD, Rasmussen BB, Wolfe RR. Leg glucose and protein metabolism during an acute bout of resistance exercise in humans. J Appl Physiol 2004; 97:1379–1386.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Dreyer HC, Drummond MJ, Glynn EL, Fujita S, Chinkes DL, Volpi E, Rasmussen BB. Resistance exercise increases human skeletal muscle AS160/TBC1D4 phosphorylation in association with enhanced leg glucose uptake during postexercise recovery. J Appl Physiol 2008; 105: 1967–1974.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Dunstan DW, Daly RM, Owen N, Jolley D, De Courten M, Shaw J, Zimmet P. High-intensity resistance training improves glycemic control in older patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 2002; 25:1729–1736.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Fenicchia LM, Kanaley JA, Azevedo JL Jr, Miller CS, Weinstock RS, Carhart RL, Ploutz-Snyder LL. Influence of resistance exercise training on glucose control in women with type 2 diabetes. Metabolism 2004; 53: 284–289.

  39. Ekta A, Shweta S, Sandhu JS. Effects of resistance training on metabolic profile of adults with type 2 diabetes. Indian J Med Res 2009; 129: 515–519.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Ronald J, Glen P, David H, Carmen C. Physical activity/exercise and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 2004; 27:2518–2539.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Thabet BR, Badr NM, Serry ZM, Rashed LA. Resistive exercise versus yoga training on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes [Doctoral Thesis]. Cairo, Egypt: Department of Cardiovascular/Respiratory disorders and Geriatrics, Cairo University; 2011.

Download references

Author information

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
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yasser M. Aneisb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Khaled M. Mounirc
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yasser M. Aneisb.

Rights and permissions

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

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

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

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

Keyword

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