Effect of Low-Intensity Ergometer Aerobic Training on Glucose Tolerance in Severely Impaired Nondiabetic Stroke Patients

Objective: To investigate whether low-intensity ergometer aerobic training has beneficial effect on glucose tolerance in nondiabetic patients with severely impaired stroke. Methods: Fifty-four severely impaired stroke survivors were recruited and randomly assigned to the experimental group and control group. They have no diabetes history with fasting plasma glucose less than 7 mmol/L. Both groups participated in a 6-week rehabilitation training program with low-intensity ergometer aerobic training added only in the experimental group 3 times per week. Primary outcome variables were fasting glucose, fasting insulin, 2-hour glucose, and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in oral glucose tolerance test before and after intervention. Results: Before intervention, 36 of 54 (66.7%) were diagnosed with impaired glucose status or diabetic glucose tolerance totally. The average 2-hour plasma glucose level was 9.14 +/- 1.39 mmol/L. After intervention, aerobic training significantly improved fasting insulin (from 8.51 +/- 2.01 mu U/mL to 7.11 +/- 2.02 mu U/mL), 2-hour glucose level (from 9.13 +/- 1.14 mmol/L to 7.22 +/- 1.23 mmol/L), and HOMA-IR (from 1.62 +/- 1.01 to 1.29 +/- .79) in the intervention group compared with the control group (P < .05). Aerobic training also significantly improved their glucose tolerance state (P < .05). Conclusions: Preliminary findings suggest that abnormal glucose tolerance may be highly present among severely impaired nondiabetic stroke patients and low-intensity ergometer aerobic training may have beneficial role in improving glucose tolerance.