HUMA KHAN, KAMRAN ALI, TABISH FAHIM, & MUHAMMAD SUFYAN
DOI: https://doi.org/Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) presents a major global health burden due to its progressive metabolic complications and strong association with cardiovascular disease. Exercise therapy is widely recognized as an essential non‑pharmacological strategy, yet comprehensive randomized trials comparing cardiovascular-style exercise with standard therapeutic programs that remain limited.
Objectives: To evaluate the impact of a structured 12‑week cardiovascular exercise regimen on glycemic markers and lipid parameters in adults with T2DM and compare outcomes with those achieved through conventional therapeutic exercise.
Methods: A single‑blind randomized controlled study was carried out at a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi, India. Forty clinically diagnosed adults with T2DM were randomly assigned to either a cardiovascular exercise group (n = 21) or a conventional therapeutic exercise group (n = 19). Both groups participated in supervised exercise sessions three times weekly for 12 weeks. Primary outcomes were glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting blood glucose. Secondary variables included lipid profile indices, body mass index (BMI), body weight, random blood sugar, six‑minute walk distance (6MWD), and blood pressure. Analysis involved paired tests for within‑group changes and changes‑score comparisons for between‑group differences.
Results: The cardiovascular group demonstrated pronounced improvements across nearly all metabolic and functional parameters, including significant reductions in HbA1c, fasting glucose, random glucose, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, weight, and BMI, alongside enhanced functional capacity. The conventional exercise group showed modest improvements in selected metabolic indicators but no significant gains in HbA1c, BMI, or endurance. Change‑score comparisons confirmed that cardiovascular training was superior across most outcome domains.
Conclusion: A structured cardiovascular exercise program performed thrice weekly for 12 weeks produced clinically meaningful benefits in metabolic regulation, lipid health, and functional performance in adults with T2DM. These findings highlight cardiovascular‑style body‑weight training as an accessible and practical addition to diabetes rehabilitation programs.
