Stair Climbing/Descending Exercise-Immediate Effect against Postprandial Hyperglycemia in Older People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The purpose of the present study was to examine whether a short bout of stair climbing/descending exercise (ST-EX) accelerates the decrease in postprandial blood glucose levels in older people with type 2 diabetes. Seven patients with no complicated type 2 diabetes (age 72±4 years, HbA1c 6.5±0.8%) performed ST-EX, walked on a flat floor, or sat on a chair for ~6.5 min starting 90 min after carbohydrate ingestion (30 g of starch hydrolysate), and then sat until 180 min after carbohydrate ingestion. ST-EX comprised 12 sets of stair climbing to the second floor at a rate of 90–120 steps/min followed by walking down to the first floor at a free step rate. The difference between capillary blood glucose levels at 90 min and 105 min was significantly greater when the subjects performed ST-EX (61±17 mg/dL) than when they walked (33±12 mg/dL, P< 0.01) or sat (21±10 mg/dL, P< 0.01). The area under the curve for blood glucose between 90 and 180 min was 15% lower when the subjects performed STEX than when they sat (P< 0.05).All the subjects completed ST-EX without distressing symptoms such as dyspnea or leg exhaustion, because of the reduction in perceived exertion during the descending and resting period. ST-EX may be a useful method for improving glucose excursion after a meal in people with type 2 diabetes.