Effect of different modes of exercise on blood glucose and neural conduction among patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Objective The study aimed to evaluate the effect of different modes of exercise on blood glucose and neural conduction among patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Methods A total of 57 patients with DPN who fell into the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly assigned to the aerobic exercise group (n=29) and resistance exercise group (n=28). Patients in aerobic and resistance exercise groups respectively received 12-week moderate intensity aerobic and resistance exercise. HbA1c and neural conduc tion were determined before and after the intervention. Results HbA1c decreased in both groups after the intervention compared with those before the intervention,t values were 2.014 and 2.357,P<0.05. The motor conduction velocity of nervus peroneus communis, motor conduction velocity of posterior tibial nerve and sensory conduction velocity of distal posterior tibial nerve significantly improved after intervention compared with those before intervention in the aerobic exercise group,t value were 3.059, 2.711 and 2.359, the difference was statistically significant. The motor conduction velocity of posterior tibial nerve, sensory conduction velocity of distal posterior tibial nerve and sensory conduction velocity of proximal posterior tibial nerve significantly improved after intervention compared with those before intervention in the resistance exercise group,t values were 2.471, 2.663 and 3.867, the difference was statistically significant. Compared with the aerobic exercise group, the resistance exercise group was superior in reducing HbA1c and improving sensory conduction velocity of proximal posterior tibial nerve,t value were 2.602 and -2.082, the difference was statistically significant. Conclusions Aerobic exercise and resistance exercise could improve blood glucose and nerve conduction among patients with DPN, resistance exercise was superior in improving HbA1c and the sensory conduction velocity of tibial nerve than aerobic exercise. Key words: Blood glucose; Neural conduction; Exercise; Diabetic peripheral neuropathy