Effect of low-intensity ergometer aerobic training on glucose tolerance in severely impaired nondiabetic stroke patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether low-intensity ergometer aerobic training has beneficial effect on glucose tolerance in nondiabetic patients with severely impaired stroke.


METHODS
Fifty-four severely impaired stroke survivors were recruited and randomly assigned to the experimental group and control group. They have no diabetes history with fasting plasma glucose less than 7 mmol/L. Both groups participated in a 6-week rehabilitation training program with low-intensity ergometer aerobic training added only in the experimental group 3 times per week. Primary outcome variables were fasting glucose, fasting insulin, 2-hour glucose, and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in oral glucose tolerance test before and after intervention.


RESULTS
Before intervention, 36 of 54 (66.7%) were diagnosed with impaired glucose status or diabetic glucose tolerance totally. The average 2-hour plasma glucose level was 9.14 ± 1.39 mmol/L. After intervention, aerobic training significantly improved fasting insulin (from 8.51 ± 2.01 μU/mL to 7.11 ± 2.02 μU/mL), 2-hour glucose level (from 9.13 ± 1.14 mmol/L to 7.22 ± 1.23 mmol/L), and HOMA-IR (from 1.62 ± 1.01 to 1.29 ± .79) in the intervention group compared with the control group (P < .05). Aerobic training also significantly improved their glucose tolerance state (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary findings suggest that abnormal glucose tolerance may be highly present among severely impaired nondiabetic stroke patients and low-intensity ergometer aerobic training may have beneficial role in improving glucose tolerance.
Rehabilitation Therapy Department, The Second Medical School of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing.
Zun
Z
Wang
Rehabilitation Therapy Department, The Second Medical School of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing.
Lei
L
Wang
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang.
Hongjuan
H
Fan
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
Xiao
X
Lu
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: wangtong60621@163.com.
Tong
T
Wang
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002681:China; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin
Effect; glucose tolerance; low-intensity ergometer aerobic training; severely impaired nondiabetic stroke patients