Sex-related glycemic and cardiovascular responses in type 1 diabetes patients after aerobic exercise
by IDS Director of Exercise Physiology, Teen/Young Adult Specialist, Kathryn Gentile Alvarez
This study investigated sex-related glycemic and cardiovascular responses in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) after two types of 30-minute aerobic exercise sessions: interval aerobic exercise (IAE) and continuous aerobic exercise (CAE).
A total of 19 participants (10 women) completed the study, which measured heart rate, blood pressure, double product (cardiac workload), and blood glucose (BG) levels before (PRE), immediately after (POST-0), and 20 minutes after (POST-20) each session.
- Men experienced significant reductions in BG levels after both CAE (at POST-0 and POST-20) and IAE (only at POST-0), with one hypoglycemic episode following IAE.
- Women showed decreased BG levels after CAE at both POST-0 and POST-20, but not after IAE.
- Cardiovascular responses, perceived exertion, and enjoyment levels were similar between exercise types and sexes, though men exhibited higher systolic blood pressure.
- Overall, BG reductions were greater in men after CAE compared to IAE.
- Men can choose either interval or continuous aerobic exercise (CAE) based on their pre-exercise blood glucose (BG) levels. However, starting a continuous session with lower blood glucose increases the risk of hypoglycemia. In contrast, for women, the prescription for interval aerobic exercise (IAE) and CAE can be the same, as our findings showed no differences in blood glucose levels between these exercise types.
The study suggests that sex-specific factors may influence exercise recommendations for individuals with T1DM, especially for men who may have irregular physical activity levels.
As the authors point out, this study has several limitations.
- First, while the volunteer groups were similar in anthropometric, clinical, and insulin delivery characteristics, assessing gas exchange ratios and hormone levels during and after the sessions would offer more insights into sex-specific glycemic and cardiovascular changes.
- Second, the menstrual cycle phase of female participants was not specifically evaluated, despite testing during a non-menstruation week.
- Third, capillary blood glucose (CBG), though commonly used, was measured alongside continuous glucose monitoring, and the VO2max estimation field test used may be less accurate than other methods.
- Additionally, the small sample size and lack of muscle mass assessment, a key factor in glucose uptake, are also limitations.
Future studies with larger sample sizes are needed for more robust insights and reliable recommendations.
Read the original article for more information.
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