DiabetAction: Changes in physical activity practice, fitness, and metabolic syndrome in type 2 diabetic and at-risk individuals

Objective: To study the changes in physical activity (PA) level, body composition, fitness, and health parameters after the DiabetAction program and evaluate if PA level was maintained during follow-up. Design: The design of this quasi-experimental study was 1-group pre-test and post-test. Settings: The study was conducted at the sport center (CEPSUM) of the University of Montreal. Participants: Out of the 39 subjects from different ethnic backgrounds with type 2 diabetes (T2D) or risk factors (obesity, insulin resistance, or familial history of T2D) who joined the program, 29 subjects took part in at least 50% of group sessions and performed post-intervention evaluations. Analyses were done using those 29 participants. Intervention: DiabetAction is a 10-week program designed for health and exercise professionals who want to introduce type 2 diabetic (T2D) and at-risk individuals to various modalities of exercise (cardiovascular, resistance, flexibility, and balance) in order to increase activity levels. Main Outcome Measurements: PA level, aerobic capacity; hand grip strength, dynamic balance, anthropometry, resting heart rate and blood pressure, fasting blood lipids and glucose, and metabolic syndrome prevalence. Results: A significant increase in PA practice was observed after the 10-week program, and more importantly was maintained during the 6-month follow-up. Significant increases in aerobic capacity, muscular strength at the hand, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were also observed post-intervention. After the program, significant resting heart rate, and systolic blood pressure were reported. Overall, a reduction in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was measured post-intervention. Conclusion: Participants improved their fitness, cardiovascular risk factors, and PA level after their participation to the DiabetAction program, and those promising results justify further validation studies.