Physical Therapy for Diabetes Mellitus

Background: The aim of this study to compare the effect of moderate exercises versus light exercises on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: This 3-month, 2-arm cluster randomized controlled trial involved 60 patients aged between 35and 60 years divided randomly into two groups. Group 1 received 30 minutes of aerobic exercise at 40-60% of maximum heart rate. Group 2,Treated by walking30 minutes daily divided into 5minutes every 2 hours to break sedentary position for 12 hours daily. Results: At the base line no significant difference were found in both groups in all parameters. After three months of treatment, there is no significant difference in all parameters BMI, p=0.111, waist to hip ratio, p=0.245, 6 minutes' walk, p=0.614, blood glucose, p=0.105 and sf-36, p=0.106. The study approved by ethical committee of faculty of physical therapy, Cairo University REC/012/002607. Conclusion: Light exercise has the same effect on blood glucose as moderate exercise, so just walking for 5 minutes every 2 hours can be useful for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.