Fitness Workouts and Insulin Sensitivity

To summarise, a large body of evidence suggests that physical conditioning is an important determinant of insulin sensitivity and overall glucose tolerance. Both acute and chronic physical training are linked to improved glucose disposal. Physical inactivity, on the other hand, leads to a decline in glucose tolerance. Muscle is the primary tissue in charge of accelerated glucose disposal following exercise. Enhanced glucose transport and increased glycogen synthesis are largely responsible for the improvement in glucose tolerance after an acute bout of exercise. Multiple factors appear to explain the beneficial effects of chronic physical training on glucose metabolism, including increased muscle mass, increased muscle blood flow and capillary area, increased mitochondrial oxidative enzyme capacity, and activation of the glucose transport system. Despite these well-documented effects of exercise on glucose metabolism, the exact role of exercise in the treatment of diabetic patients is unknown. Acute exercise has been shown to be a helpful adjunct in establishing good glycemic control in insulin-dependent (type I) diabetic individuals. However, little attention has been paid to the role of acute exercise in helping to smooth out glycemic control in non-insulin-dependent (type II) diabetic patients. The role of chronic physical training in the treatment of insulin-dependent (type I) and non-insulin-dependent (type II) diabetics is unknown.