Washington D.C. [USA], April 10 : New research reveals that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) increases glucose metabolism in muscles as well as insulin sensitivity in type two diabetes.
Already after a two-week training period, the glucose uptake in thigh muscles returned to a normal level.
The discovery was made in a research project led by Senior Research Fellow Kari Kalliokoski and Project Manager Jarna Hannukainen at the University of Turku, Finland.
The project studied the health impacts of high-intensity interval training on healthy people and diabetics.
"The main benefit of high-intensity interval training is mostly that it takes less time," says Doctoral Candidate Tanja Sjoros.
First in the study, healthy men in their forties and fifties did either high-intensity interval training or traditional, moderate intensity training.
Later, a group of people with insulin resistance carried out a similar two-week training routine. Some of them had type 2 diabetes and some prediabetes. After two weeks of high intensity training, which amounted to six training sessions, the glucose metabolism in the thigh muscles achieved the starting level of the healthy control group.
Glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity improved after both the high-intensity training and the moderate intensity continuous training, so the study suggests that people can choose the type of training based on their own preferences.
The research results published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine (and) Science in Sports, highlight the beneficial effects of exercise on glucose metabolism especially in diabetics and in those who suffer from disturbances in the glucose metabolism.
However, the researchers advise that diabetics should consult their doctor before starting a new exercise routine.
Source: ANI
