Changes in clinical and metabolic parameters after exercise therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Introduction: The study was carried out to investigate the effect of Hatha yoga and conventional physical training (PT) intervention on clinical and biochemical parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes. Material and methods: The patient population consisted of 77 type 2 diabetic patients in the Hatha yoga group, matched with the same number of patients in the conventional PT and control groups. The clinical parameters were weekly diastolic and systolic blood pressures, along with body mass index (BMI). Biochemical parameters included weekly blood glucose, serum creatinine, microalbumjinuria and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) measured at baseline and two consecutive three monthly intervals. Results: There were significant differences in the blood glucose concentrations exercise and exercise for the Hatha yoga and conventional PT groups at different weekly intervals (P<0.05). The frequency of signs and symptoms of hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia over the weeks during was greater in the conventional PT than in the Hatha yoga group (P=0.004). The HbA1c concentration decreased after six months in the Hatha yoga and conventional PT groups and was significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.05). There were significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressures observed before and after for the Hatha yoga and conventional PT groups (P=0.0001). Conclusions: These findings suggest that better glycaemic and blood pressure control can be obtained in type 2 diabetic patients after Hatha yoga and conventional PT exercises.