Exercise Therapy and Glycaemic Control in Diabetic Persons at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City

Abstract

Background: Exercise is a major therapeutic tool in diabetes care, with proven benefits including improved metabolic indices and physical wellbeing. However, its effects have remained unreported in our locale, thus forming the basis for this report.

Study Design: Data obtained during routine optimal diabetes care from 90 persons with diabetes mellitus (DM)in the Diabetes Clinic, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria, included the types, frequency and duration of exercise. Glycaemic control was determined using mean fasting glucose (FPG) levels over the preceding 12 months. The Student’s t -, and Chi-square tests, and Pearson’s product moment correlation were used as appropriate and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results: Type 2 DM was seen in 83 (92.2%) persons. Mean (SD) age was 54.2 (14.2) years. Fifty persons (55.6%) perform exercisesand 24 (48%) persons exercise daily. Brisk walking was the most common exercise (44%) and the least common were Table Tennis, Swimming and Weight lifting (2% each). There were no significant differences in the types or frequency of exercise by sex (p> 0.05). A significant difference was noted in the types of exercise by frequency (p<< 0.001). Mean FPG values were significantly lower in exercising DM persons compared with non-exercising DM persons (p<<0.001); there was a significant inverse relationship of mean FPG and exercise frequency (r = -0.49, p< 0.05)

Conclusion: Exercise therapy was significantly associated with better glycaemic control in our diabetic patients. More DM persons should be encouraged to exercise regularly in order to benefit from this intervention.

Keywords: Exercise therapy, diabetes mellitus, glycaemic control.