Source
Interdisziplinäres Stoffwechsel-Centrum, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany. ursula.ploeckinger@charite.de
Abstract
AIM:
Hypoglycaemia is the most common adverse event associated with intensive conventional insulin therapy (ICT). This study compared the risk of exercise-related hypoglycaemia in type 2 diabetes patients receiving either basal insulin glargine or NPH insulin.
METHODS:
In a prospective trial, 122 ICT patients (glargine n=60, NPH n=62) had a standardized treadmill test, monitored by capillary lactate concentration. Blood glucose (BG) profiles were performed the day before, during and the day after the exercise test, with the patients on a strict carbohydrate-defined diet. All patients had been on a stable ICT scheme for at least three months and had an HbA1c below 7.5%.
RESULTS:
BG at the beginning of the exercise test, BG decline and lowest BG during the test were comparable between the two groups. The episodes of mild hypoglycaemia (BG<3.3 mmol/l) and amounts of additional carbohydrate intake due to mild symptoms of hypoglycaemia (BG 3.3-5.0 mmol/l) were not significantly different. No episodes of hypoglycaemia occurred during several hours after the exercise.
CONCLUSIONS:
Moderate physical activity can be recommended for well-controlled type 2 diabetes patients receiving ICT, independently of glargine or NPH as basal insulin and without risk of exercise-induced hypoglycaemia.