Hypotensive effects of exercise performed around anaerobic threshold in type 2 diabetic patients.

AIM

To verify the occurrence of post-exercise hypotension (PEH) in type 2 diabetics (DM(2)) and the effects of exercise intensity on post-exercise blood pressure (BP).

METHODS

Eleven men and women with DM(2) (58.5+/-10.2 years; 160+/-0.1cm; 80.6+/-13.5kg; 31.2+/-3.8kg/m(2), 19+/-3.2mLkgmin(-1) of VO(2max), 155.0+/-39.2mgdL(-1) of fasting blood glucose and 126+/-10/75+/-7mmHg of resting BP) performed an incremental test (IT) for cardiovascular evaluation and anaerobic threshold (AT) determination. Then, participants randomly underwent 2 exercise sessions (90% and 110% AT) and a control session (CON). In all sessions, BP was measured at resting, during 20min of exercise/control and at each 15min through 120min of post-exercise recovery (R15-R120).

RESULTS

The mean results of systolic BP (SBP)/diastolic BP (DBP) over the 120min of recovery were 125+/-16/76+/-7mmHg, 122+/-13/75+/-6mmHg and 129+/-16/78+/-7mmHg, respectively for 90%, 110% and CON. Significant reductions of SBP occurred after 90% (R15-R45) and 110% (R15-R90), while only after 110% there were reductions of DBP (R15, R45) and MAP (R15, R45, R75, R90, R105).

CONCLUSIONS

Both exercise intensities evoked reductions in SBP while DBP and MAP were reduced only after 110%. Despite the higher intensity exercise to be more effective in promoting BP reductions, we suggest caution while prescribing exercise for DM(2).