Supervised exercise in patients with impaired fasting glucose: impact on exercise capacity.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of counseling alone with that of additional participation in supervised training courses on exercise capacity in patients with impaired fasting glucose.


METHODS
Randomized, controlled intervention trial using a nested cohort approach.


METHODS
Primary care centers in western Austria.


METHODS
Thirty-six patients with impaired fasting glucose (16 males, 20 females; mean age, 57.5 +/- 6.9 years).


METHODS
Participants of both groups were instructed about the preventive effectiveness of changing their lifestyle, especially losing weight and increasing physical activity. One group had additionally been offered supervised, progressive, individually tailored aerobic exercise programs for 1 hour twice a week.


METHODS
Changes in the levels of exercise capacity, body mass, and fasting blood glucose.


RESULTS
The subjects with supervised exercise participated in this program for 1.8 hours (+/- 0.3) per week over 12 months. Supervised exercise was sufficient to maintain exercise capacity, whereas counseling alone was not (+4.4% versus -6.9%; P = 0.01). After the 12-month intervention period, body mass was reduced in the supervised exercise group (-3.0%) compared with the counseling alone group (+1.0%) (P = 0.03) and fasting plasma glucose levels had similarly improved by counseling for adequate lifestyle changes alone (-8.2%) and in combination with supervised exercise (-6.0%).


CONCLUSIONS
In contrast to counseling alone, 2 sessions of supervised training per week, besides the self-chosen physical activity and nutritional measures, are sufficient to maintain exercise capacity in patients with impaired fasting glucose.
Burtscher
Martin
M
Department of Sport Science, Medical Section, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria. martin.burtscher@uibk.ac.at
Gatterer
Hannes
H
Kunczicky
Herwig
H
Brandstätter
Elisabeth
E
Ulmer
Hanno
H
D001786:Blood Glucose; D003376:Counseling; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010806:Physical Education and Training
D001786:Blood Glucose