Effect of a single bout of moderate exercise on glucose uptake in type 2 diabetes mellitus

SummaryBackground and purposeHypoglycemia during exercise is a serious problem in diabetic patients during cardiac rehabilitation, whereas normal subjects rarely experience hypoglycemia. Inappropriate glucose uptake by working muscles may be responsible. However, the precise characteristics of glucose uptake during exercise have not been fully studied. We have investigated the effect of acute exercise on glucose uptake in diabetic patients.MethodsNine type 2 diabetic patients (age, 57±6 years; HbA1c, 7.7±1.3%) performed exercise at an intensity of anaerobic threshold for 15min. Glucose utility was determined using euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique. Glucose infusion rate (GIR) was calculated throughout the exercise and recovery session.ResultsAverage GIR at rest was 3.4±1.6mg/(kgBWmin). Fifteen minutes after starting exercise, it increased significantly (6.6±2.4, p