title: Physical exercise as therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: Many studies have highlighted the importance of physical activity (PA) for health, and recent evidence now points to the positive improvements associated with exercise in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, few physicians are willing to prescribe exercise as a therapy for diabetic patients. In addition, there is a lack of information on how to implement exercise therapy especially in long-term exercise regimens. The purpose of this manuscript is to summarize standards of exercise therapy for patients with T2DM, both in terms of prescribing and monitoring, according to the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Diabetes Association guidelines. We present details of the exercise therapies used in long-term studies, describing how the parameters for exercise prescription were applied in clinical practice. These parameters are described in terms of frequency, intensity, duration, mode and rate of progression in long-term therapeutic prescriptions. Individual responses to exercise dose are discussed, and critical issues to be considered in patients with underlying disease and in T2DM patients are highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Metabolic Fitness Association, Rome, Italy; Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, 'La Sapienza' University, Rome, Italy; Diabetes Unit, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balducci
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sacchetti
authors.forename: Jonida
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haxhi
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Orlando
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: D'Errico
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fallucca
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Menini
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pugliese
mesh_terms: D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000628:therapy*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans
keywords: dose-response; physical activity; prescribing exercise therapy; type 2 diabetes