The Effect of an Aerobic Exercise Programme on Blood Glucose Level, Cardiovascular Parameters, Peripheral Oxygen Saturation, and Body Mass Index among Southern Nigerians with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Undergoing Concurrent Sulfonylurea and Metformin Treatment

Ezema CI 1 , Omeh E 1 , Onyeso OKK 1 , Anyachukwu CC 1 , Nwankwo MJ 2 , Amaeze A 1 Show all authors , Ugwulebor JU 1 , Nna EO 3 , Ohotu EO 4 , Ugwuanyi I 1

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria
  • 2 Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra, Nigeria
  • 3 Safety Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Ranger's Avenue, Enugu, Nigeria
  • 4 Department of Haematology and Immunology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla. Enugu, Nigeria
Malays J Med Sci, 2019 Sep;26(5):88-97.
PMID: 31728121 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2019.26.5.8

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality. The present study investigated the effect of an eight-week aerobics programme on fasting blood sugar (FBS), cardiovascular parameters, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), and body mass index (BMI) among subjects with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: A pretest-posttest experimental design was employed. Fifty subjects, diagnosed with T2DM, attending the Diabetes Clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, were conveniently recruited, gender and age-matched, and randomised into exercise and control groups. The intervention included an eight-week aerobic exercise at 60%-79% HRmax for 45 min-60 min, 3-days per week. The FBS, SpO2, BMI, resting heart rate (RHR), and systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of the subjects were measured before and after the intervention. The paired and independent t-test(s) were used for the analyses within and between the groups, respectively (P ≤ 0.05).

Results: The exercise group had a significantly lower SBP (15.0 mmHg, P = 0.001), DBP (7.9 mmHg, P = 0.001), RHR (4.8 bpm, P = 0.001), FBS (34.9 mg/dl, P = 0.001), and BMI (2.3, P = 0.001), while the SpO2 improved by 3.9% with P = 0.001, relative to the control group.

Conclusion: Aerobics is an efficacious adjunct therapy in controlling the FBS level, blood pressure, BMI, and improving SpO2 among T2DM subjects.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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