Acute high‐intensity interval exercise reduces the postprandial glucose response and prevalence of hyperglycaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes

High‐volume endurance exercise (END) improves glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes (T2D) but many individuals cite ‘lack of time’ as a barrier to regular participation. High‐intensity interval training (HIT) is a time‐efficient method to induce physiological adaptations similar to END, but little is known regarding the effect of HIT in T2D. Using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), we examined the 24‐h blood glucose response to one session of HIT consisting of 10 × 60 s cycling efforts at ∼90% maximal heart rate, interspersed with 60 s rest. Seven adults with T2D underwent CGM for 24‐h on two occasions under standard dietary conditions: following acute HIT and on a non‐exercise control day (CTL). HIT reduced hyperglycaemia measured as proportion of time spent above 10 mmol/l (HIT: 4.5 ± 4.4 vs. CTL: 15.2 ± 12.3%, p = 0.04). Postprandial hyperglycaemia, measured as the sum of post‐meal areas under the glucose curve, was also lower after HIT vs. CTL (728 ± 331 vs. 1142 ± 556 mmol/l·9 h, p = 0.01). These findings highlight the potential for HIT to improve glycaemic control in T2D.

Acute high‐intensity interval exercise reduces the postprandial glucose response and prevalence of hyperglycaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes Journal Articles