Introduction & Objective: Physical activity is crucial for optimal blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes. This study assesses the impact of postprandial sedentary behavior on blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Methods: Twenty-six outpatient type 2 diabetes patients participated, wearing CGM (FreeStyle Libre Pro) and an accelerometer (GT3X-BT) for a 14-day observation. Baseline dietary intake was assessed. During the initial 7 days, participants followed routine activities. In the subsequent 7 days, the sedentary(SD) group was told to "sit for at least 30 minutes after meals," and the non-sedentary(nSD) group to "avoid sitting for at least 30 minutes after meals." Random assignment was disclosed on the 7th day. Primary outcome: change in mean blood glucose (Mann-Whitney U test). Secondary outcomes: changes in mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE) and within-group comparisons before and after the intervention using paired t-tests.
Results: Analysis included 23 participants (male: 14, mean age: 74.0±4.4 years, mean HbA1c: 6.9±1.0%). No group differences in activity and diet. Change in mean blood glucose was not significant between SD (-2.9±7.3 mg/dL) and nSD groups (-4.0±6.0 mg/dL) (p=0.735). However, a significant reduction was observed in mean MAGE change between the SD group (-2.2±11.1 mg/dL) and the nSD group (-12.3±12.7 mg/dL) (p=0.023). In within-group comparisons, mean blood glucose showed changes for the SD group from 151.9±31.7 to 149.0±35.6 mg/dL (p=0.097) and for the nSD group from 148.5±25.5 to 144.5±26.9 mg/dL (p=0.024). Mean MAGE values demonstrated changes within the SD group from 81.2±19.6 to 83.4±23.3 mg/dL (p=0.750) and within the nSD group from 105.0±28.0 to 92.7±22.9 mg/dL (p=0.005).
Conclusion: The directive to "avoid sitting for at least 30 minutes after meals" is a simple, effective strategy for improving blood glucose control in diabetes.
T. Osaka: None. H. Okada: None. M. Fukui: None.
