“The Impact of Various Exercise Durations on Postprandial Glucose Control in Adults with Prediabetes”

Abstract

The global rise in the incidence of prediabetes is a major public health concern; it is primarily influenced by lifestyle factors such as diet and physical inactivity. Exercise plays a critical role in its managment by enhancing insulin sensitivity and controlling blood glucose levels. This study aims to assess the impact of an optimized exercise in term of intensity and postprandial timing (data not published) of different durations on glycemic markers in prediabetic individuals. This crossover study took place at Khyber Medical University involving 25 prediabetic adults diagnosed on American Diabetes Association criteria. Participants underwent four exercise sessions (already optimized in terms of intensity and post prandial timings) of different durations (15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes) after a standard breakfast of 250-calories. Glycemic markers, including glucose, insulin, and C-peptide levels were measured at multiple points: fasting, pre-exercise, 30 and 60 minutes’ post-exercise. The data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and paired sample t-test at a significant level of p < 0.001. Our results indicated a significant reduction in blood glucose levels post-exercise with longer durations showing more pronounced effects. Specifically, the 45 minutes’ exercise session resulted in the most substantial decrease 1 hour post-exercise bringing the parameters close to baseline improving the insulin sensitivity. The study demonstrated that increasing the duration of postprandial exercise significantly enhances glycemic control in prediabetic individuals, with longer session of 45 minutes being more effective.

Key words: Aerobic exercise, Duration, Glucose regulation, Prediabetes