The Effects of Exercise Habit on Albuminuria and Metabolic Indices in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM) can cause macrovascular and microvascular complications, potentially resulting in further life-threatening complications. In general, the global prevalence of type 2 DM is increasing. To date, the care of DM comprises three aspects: diet, medication and exercise; among them, exercise is the most economical. Albuminuria is associated with renal injury and the progress of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The effects of habitual exercise in patients with new onset of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) have not been generally recognized. Our aim was to conduct an observational study regarding the effects of regular exercise on proteinuria and associated metabolic indices in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 DM. To investigate the effects of an exercise habit on albuminuria and the metabolic indices including renal function, blood glucose, and plasma lipids among patients with newly diagnosed type 2 DM. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on newly diagnosed DM patients in two teaching hospitals in Taiwan from 1 June to 31 December 2020. The DM patients participated in the Diabetes Shared Care Network. According to the DM care mode, the patients’ blood biochemical results were analysed. Based on exercise duration, the patients were divided into two groups, i.e., the exercise group (≥150 min per week) and the non-exercise group (<150 min per week). Clinical demographic features and laboratory examination including blood and urine biochemistries were determined. Results: A total of 229 patients including 99 males (43.2%) and 130 females (56.8%) participated in the study. The proportion of DM patients with normoalbuminuria was higher (p < 0.05) in the exercise group (69.8%) than in the non-exercise group (53.7%), and the proportion of DM patients with micro or macroalbuminuria was lower in the exercise group (30.2%) than in the non-exercise group (46.3%). Levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), triglycerides (TG) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were significantly different in both groups. Compared with the non-exercise group, lower HbA1c (6.89 ± 0.69 vs. 7.16 ± 1.05%) (p < 0.05), lower FPG (121.9 ± 25.7 vs. 140.5 ± 42.4 mg/dL) (p < 0.05), lower TG (115.6 ± 53.6 vs. 150.2 ± 15.4 mg/dL) (p < 0.05), and higher HDL (50.3 ± 11.4 vs. 44.1 ± 9.26 mg/dL) (p < 0.05) levels were noted in the exercise group. Conclusions: Regular exercise remains imperative and may bear an impact on albuminuria, blood glucose, and plasma lipids among type 2 DM patients. Therefore, medical staff and healthcare providers should encourage patients to maintain an exercise duration ≥150 min per week for preventing and controlling DM progression.