Association of Cycling With All-Cause and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Among Persons With Diabetes: The European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Study.

Importance: Premature death from all causes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) causes is higher among persons with diabetes. Objective: To investigate the association between time spent cycling and all-cause and CVD mortality among persons with diabetes, as well as to evaluate the association between change in time spent cycling and risk of all-cause and CVD mortality. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective cohort study included 7459 adults with diabetes from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study. Questionnaires regarding medical history, sociodemographic, and lifestyle information were administered in 10 Western European countries from 1992 through 2000 (baseline examination) and at a second examination 5 years after baseline. A total of 5423 participants with diabetes completed both examinations. The final updated primary analysis was conducted on November 13, 2020. Exposures: The primary exposure was self-reported time spent cycling per week at the baseline examination. The secondary exposure was change in cycling status from baseline to the second examination. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary and secondary outcomes were all-cause and CVD mortality, respectively, adjusted for other physical activity modalities, diabetes duration, and sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Results: Of the 7459 adults with diabetes included in the analysis, the mean (SD) age was 55.9 (7.7) years, and 3924 (52.6%) were female. During 110 944 person-years of follow-up, 1673 deaths from all causes were registered. Compared with the reference group of people who reported no cycling at baseline (0 min/wk), the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios for all-cause mortality were 0.78 (95% CI, 0.61-0.99), 0.76 (95% CI, 0.65-0.88), 0.68 (95% CI, 0.57-0.82), and 0.76 (95% CI, 0.63-0.91) for cycling 1 to 59, 60 to 149, 150 to 299, and 300 or more min/wk, respectively. In an analysis of change in time spent cycling with 57 802 person-years of follow-up, a total of 975 deaths from all causes were recorded. Compared with people who reported no cycling at both examinations, the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios for all-cause mortality were 0.90 (95% CI, 0.71-1.14) in those who cycled and then stopped, 0.65 (95% CI, 0.46-0.92) in initial noncyclists who started cycling, and 0.65 (95% CI, 0.53-0.80) for people who reported cycling at both examinations. Similar results were observed for CVD mortality. Conclusion and Relevance: In this cohort study, cycling was associated with lower all-cause and CVD mortality risk among people with diabetes independent of practicing other types of physical activity. Participants who took up cycling between the baseline and second examination had a considerably lower risk of both all-cause and CVD mortality compared with consistent noncyclists.

Sarcopenia Is Associated With Reduced Function on Admission to Rehabilitation in Patients With Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: This work aims to estimate the prevalence of sarcopenia and to investigate the association between sarcopenia and functional performance in patients with and without diabetes admitted for inpatient rehabilitation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients admitted to the subacute inpatient rehabilitation unit at St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Australia (November 2016 to March 2020) were prospectively recruited into this cross-sectional study. Sarcopenia was diagnosed using the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2018 algorithm. Participants' functional performance was measured by the total Functional Independence Measure, motor Functional Independence Measure, and the Short Physical Performance Battery. The association between sarcopenia and functional performance was investigated using quantile regression. RESULTS: Of 300 participants, 49 (16%) had a history of diabetes and 44 (14.7%) were diagnosed with sarcopenia. No significant difference in the prevalence of sarcopenia between patients with or without diabetes was identified (11/49, 22.5% vs 33/251, 13.2%, P = .12). In patients with diabetes, those with sarcopenia had significantly reduced functional performance compared to those without sarcopenia on Functional Independence Measure, motor Functional Independence Measure, and the Short Physical Performance Battery, whereas in patients without diabetes no significant difference between patients with and without sarcopenia were identified for either functional performance measure (all P values for interaction < .005). CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of sarcopenia was associated with a reduced functional performance on admission to inpatient rehabilitation in patients with diabetes, but not in those without diabetes. Further investigation is needed into the progress of patients with dual diagnoses of diabetes and sarcopenia in inpatient rehabilitation.

Monitoring and Intervention Technologies to Manage Diabetic Older Persons: The CAPACITY Case-A Pilot Study.

Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease with a high prevalence among older people, and it is related to an increased risk of functional and cognitive decline, in addition to classic micro and macrovascular disease and a moderate increase in the risk of death. Technology aimed to improve elder care and quality of life needs to focus in the early detection of decline, monitoring the functional evolution of the individuals and providing ways to foster physical activity, to recommend adequate nutritional habits and to control polypharmacy. But apart from all these core features, some other elements or modules covering disease-specific needs should be added to complement care. In the case of diabetes these functionalities could include control mechanisms for blood glucose and cardiovascular risk factors, specific nutritional recommendations, suited physical activity programs, diabetes-specific educational contents, and self-care recommendations. This research work focuses on those core aspects of the technology, leaving out disease-specific modules. These central technological components have been developed within the scope of two research and innovation projects (FACET and POSITIVE, funded by the EIT-Health), that revolve around the provision of integrated, continuous and coordinated care to frail older population, who are at a high risk of functional decline. Obtained results indicate that a geriatric multimodal intervention is effective for preventing functional decline and for reducing the use of healthcare resources if administered to diabetic pre-frail and frail older persons. And if such intervention is supported by the CAPACITY technological ecosystem, it becomes more efficient.

Muscle-Organ Crosstalk: The Emerging Roles of Myokines.

Physical activity decreases the risk of a network of diseases, and exercise may be prescribed as medicine for lifestyle-related disorders such as type 2 diabetes, dementia, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. During the past couple of decades, it has been apparent that skeletal muscle works as an endocrine organ, which can produce and secrete hundreds of myokines that exert their effects in either autocrine, paracrine, or endocrine manners. Recent advances show that skeletal muscle produces myokines in response to exercise, which allow for crosstalk between the muscle and other organs, including brain, adipose tissue, bone, liver, gut, pancreas, vascular bed, and skin, as well as communication within the muscle itself. Although only few myokines have been allocated to a specific function in humans, it has been identified that the biological roles of myokines include effects on, for example, cognition, lipid and glucose metabolism, browning of white fat, bone formation, endothelial cell function, hypertrophy, skin structure, and tumor growth. This suggests that myokines may be useful biomarkers for monitoring exercise prescription for people with, for example, cancer, diabetes, or neurodegenerative diseases.

Ejercicio físico en pacientes con riesgo cardiovascular: aproximación a la situación desde la farmacia comunitaria / Physical exercise in patients with cardiovascular risk: Approximation to the situation from the Community Pharmacy

INTRODUCCIÓN: el ejercicio físico (EF) es uno de los determinantes de la salud y debe formar parte del tratamiento de pacientes con riesgo cardiovascular. OBJETIVOS: evidenciar el grado de información respecto al EF de pacientes con riesgo cardiovascular (RCV) y de profesionales sanitarios que les atienden. Averiguar si se les ha realizado prescripción de EF. Promover el EF. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: estudio descriptivo, observacional y transversal sobre 40 pacientes, a través de una entrevista con hoja de recogida de datos y cuestionario. También se pasa cuestionario a profesionales sanitarios del centro de salud que les atienden. RESULTADOS: el 35 % de pacientes cumple recomendaciones de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) respecto al EF y 95 % cree que el EF mejoraría sus problemas de salud. La falta de ganas es el motivo principal para no hacer más EF (38,46 %). El 90 % dice no haber recibido prescripción de EF indicando tipo, frecuencia, duración e intensidad. El 78 % de profesionales sanitarios (n = 9) afirma prescribir EF, 55 % dice especificar tipo, frecuencia, duración e intensidad.55 % ve necesaria más formación .89 % piensa que el EF actúa como un medicamento. El 65,4 % de pacientes y 100 % de sanitarios creen que el farmacéutico podría ayudar con la motivación y el seguimiento de un plan de EF. CONCLUSIONES: nuestros pacientes parecen más sensibilizados con el EF que la población general y casi todos saben que es beneficioso para su salud. Les falta motivación para realizar más EF. La inmensa mayoría no ha recibido prescripción de EF aunque los sanitarios afirman hacerlo, sugiriendo discordancia entre conceptos. Falta tiempo y formación en este campo para que tanto la prescripción como el seguimiento de EF sea una realidad

INTRODUCTION: Physical exercise is one of the determinants of health and that should also be part of the treatments of patients with cardiovascular risk. OBJECTIVES: Show degree of information regarding physical exercise of patients with cardiovascular risk and health professionals who attend them. Find out if they have been prescribed physical exercise. Promote EF. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive, observational and cross-sectional study on 40 patients, through an interview with data collection sheet and questionnaire. Other questionnaire is also passed to health professionals of the health center who attend them. RESULTS: 35% of patients comply with WHO recommendations regarding physical exercise, 95% believe that physical exercise would improve their health problems. Lack of desire is the main reason for not doing more physical exercise (38.46%).90% say they have not received physical exercise prescription indicating type, frequency, duration and intensity .78% of health professionals (n = 9) claim to prescribe physical exercise, 55% say they specify type, frequency, duration and intensity .55% see more training necessary .89% think that physical exercise acts as a medicine.65.4% of patients and 100% of health professional believe that the pharmacist could help with the motivation and follow-up of a physical exercise plan. CONCLUSIONS: Our patients seem more sensitized to physical exercise than the general population and almost everyone knows that it is beneficial for their health. They need more motivation to do more physical exercise. The vast majority have not received a prescription for physical exercise although the health professionals say they do so, suggesting disagreement between concepts. Lack of time and training in this field make the prescription and the follow-up of physical exercise not a reality. DISCUSSION: Citizens know that air pollution affects their health, although they do not receive enough information. The systems used by the administration are not effective and that postulates the community pharmacy as an agent of interest for the distribution of the required information

Global Mapping of Interventions to Improve Quality of Life of People with Diabetes in 1990-2018.

Improving the quality of life (QOL) of people living with diabetes is the ultimate goal of diabetes care. This study provides a quantitative overview of global research on interventions aiming to improve QOL among people with diabetes. A total of 700 English peer-reviewed papers published during 1990-2018 were collected and extracted from the Web of Science databases. Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) analysis was undertaken to categorize papers by topic or theme. Results showed an increase in interventions to improve the QOL of patients with diabetes across the time period, with major contributions from high-income countries. Community- and family-based interventions, including those focused on lifestyle and utilizing digital technologies, were common approaches. Interventions that addressed comorbidities in people with diabetes also increased. Our findings emphasize the necessity of translating the evidence from clinical interventions to community interventions. In addition, they underline the importance of developing collaborative research between developed and developing countries.

The mixed model for repeated measures for cluster randomized trials: a simulation study investigating bias and type I error with missing continuous data.

BACKGROUND: Cluster randomized trials (CRTs) are a design used to test interventions where individual randomization is not appropriate. The mixed model for repeated measures (MMRM) is a popular choice for individually randomized trials with longitudinal continuous outcomes. This model's appeal is due to avoidance of model misspecification and its unbiasedness for data missing completely at random or at random. METHODS: We extended the MMRM to cluster randomized trials by adding a random intercept for the cluster and undertook a simulation experiment to investigate statistical properties when data are missing at random. We simulated cluster randomized trial data where the outcome was continuous and measured at baseline and three post-intervention time points. We varied the number of clusters, the cluster size, the intra-cluster correlation, missingness and the data-generation models. We demonstrate the MMRM-CRT with an example of a cluster randomized trial on cardiovascular disease prevention among diabetics. RESULTS: When simulating a treatment effect at the final time point we found that estimates were unbiased when data were complete and when data were missing at random. Variance components were also largely unbiased. When simulating under the null, we found that type I error was largely nominal, although for a few specific cases it was as high as 0.081. CONCLUSIONS: Although there have been assertions that this model is inappropriate when there are more than two repeated measures on subjects, we found evidence to the contrary. We conclude that the MMRM for CRTs is a good analytic choice for cluster randomized trials with a continuous outcome measured longitudinally. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT02804698.

The effect of self-management education through weblogs on the quality of life of diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND: Self-management education of diabetes which is one of the most important noncommunicable diseases worldwide involves facilitating knowledge, skills, and ability required for self-care in these patients. Concerning the progressive growth of use of Internet for educating patients and absence of different studies about education through use of weblogs in patients with diabetes in Iran, the present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of self-management education through weblogs on the quality of life of affect the patients. METHODS: This study was performed as intervention on patients referring to diabetes clinic of Talghani hospital in Kermanshah in winter 2018 and spring 2019. The samples consisted of 98 patients with diabetes chosen through available sampling and randomly assigned into study and control groups. For data collection, diabetes quality of life (DQOL) short form clinical questionnaire, Persian version, was used. The intervention involved training self-management conducted through 60 sessions via a designed weblog. The obtained information was introduced into SPSS 21, and analyzed through Mann-Whitney, t-test, and paired t-test. RESULTS: According to the results of this study, the mean age of the examined patients was 32.1 ± 4.9 years, where the major participants were male (n = 52 in the test group, 52.5%). The results showed that after the intervention, the test and control groups were different in terms of anthropometric variables and metabolic indicators; the mean waist circumference in the test and control groups was 98.6 ± 9.8 and 101.5 ± 7.8, respectively; the mean FBS following the intervention in the test and control groups was 131.08 ± 16.04 and 238.2 ± 40, respectively; and the mean BMI postintervention in the test and control groups was obtained as 27.3 ± 3.4 and 30.1 ± 3.8 respectively, where these differences were significant according to independent t-test (p < 0.05). The mean score of quality of life postintervention in the test and control groups was obtained as 56.1 and 49.9 respectively; according to Mann-Whitney test, the difference between the two groups was significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study revealed the positive effect of weblog based self-management on the quality of life of patients with diabetes following the intervention. Further, reduced levels of FBS, BMI, as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressure were also observed, which could be due to increased awareness of patients about their abilities, its risks, as well as the ways to control and treat it.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of adherence to physical activity interventions among three chronic conditions: cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity is effective for the prevention and treatment of chronic disease, yet insufficient evidence is available to make comparisons regarding adherence to aerobic physical activity interventions among chronic disease populations, or across different settings. The purpose of this review is to investigate and provide a quantitative summary of adherence rates to the aerobic physical activity guidelines among people with chronic conditions, as physical activity is an effective form of treatment and prevention of chronic disease. METHODS: Randomized controlled (RCTs) trials where aerobic physical activity was the primary intervention were selected from PsychInfo, PubMed, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Clinical Key, and SCOPUS from 2000 to 2018. Studies were included if the program prescription aligned with the 2008 aerobic physical activity guidelines, were at least 12 weeks in length, and included adult participants living with one of three chronic diseases. The data was extracted by hand and the PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis) guidelines were used to evaluate risk-of-bias and quality of evidence. Data were pooled using random-effect models. The primary outcome measure was program adherence and the secondary outcome measures were dropout and setting (e.g. home vs. clinic-based). Pooled effect sizes and 95% CiIs (confidence intervals) were calculated using random-effect models. RESULTS: The literature search identified 1616 potentially eligible studies, of which 30 studies (published between 2000 and 2018, including 3,721 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Three clinical populations were targeted: cancer (n = 14), cardiovascular disease (n = 7), and diabetes (n = 9). Although not statistically significant, adherence rates varied across samples (65, 90, and 80%, respectively) whereas dropout rates were relatively low and consistent across samples (5, 4, and 3%). The average adherence rate, regardless of condition, is 77% (95% CI = 0.68, 0.84) of their prescribed physical activity treatment. The pooled adherence rates for clinic-based and home-based programs did not differ (74% [95% CI, 0.65, 0.82] and 80% [95% CI, 0.65, 0.91], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The current evidence suggests that people with chronic conditions are capable of sustaining aerobic physical activity for 3+ months, as a form of treatment. Moreover, home-based programs may be just as feasible as supervised, clinic-based physical activity programs.

Factors influencing behavioural intention to use a smart shoe insole in regionally based adults with diabetes: a mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: Smart insole technologies that provide biofeedback on foot health can support foot-care in adults with diabetes. However, the factors that influence patient uptake and acceptance of this technology are unclear. Therefore, the aim of this mixed-methods study was to use an established theoretical framework to determine a model of psychosocial factors that best predicts participant intention to use smart insoles. METHODS: Fifty-three adults with diabetes from regional Australia completed the validated Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the psychosocial factors that best predict behavioural intention to adopt a smart insole. Additionally, a focus group was conducted and thematic analysis was performed to explore barriers and enablers to adopting this technology. RESULTS: The multiple regression model that best predicted intention to adopt the smart insole (adjusted R2 = 0.51, p < 0.001) identified that self-efficacy (ß = 0.67, p = 0.001) and attitude (ß = 0.72, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of behavioural intention, while effort expectancy (ß = - 0.52, p = 0.003) and performance expectancy (ß = - 0.40, p = 0.040) were moderating factors. Thematic analysis illustrates the importance of attitude and self-efficacy on participants' behavioural intentions, influenced by participant's belief in the device's clinical efficacy and anticipated effort expectancy. CONCLUSIONS: This mixed-methods study demonstrates that attitude, self-efficacy, performance expectancy and effort expectancy combine to predict intention to adopt smart insole technology. Clinicians should consider these psychosocial factors when they prescribe and implement smart soles with patients at high risk of foot ulceration.

Physical Activity Pattern and Its Association with Glycaemic and Blood Pressure Control among People Living with Diabetes (PLWD) In The Ho Municipality, Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) offers considerable health benefits for diabetic patients. However, extensive high levels of inactivity has been reported among diabetic patients. This study sought to assess the patterns of physical activity and its relationship with two management-relevant outcomes (glycaemic and blood pressure control)among people living with diabetes in the Ho Municipality, Ghana. METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out from January 2017 to April 2017 among 150 purposively recruited diabetic patients who were receiving care at the diabetes clinics of the Volta Regional Hospital and the Ho Municipal Hospital. A semi-structured questionnaire was used in capturing socio-demographic information. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form. Glycaemic and blood pressure control were evaluated within a three-month period from patients' records. RESULTS: Physical activity estimates among participants were 21.33%, 48% and 30.67% for high, moderate and low PA respectively. Glycaemic control among the study participants was 33.33% and blood pressure control was 58.67%. Both glycaemic and blood pressure control were significantly associated with PA. CONCLUSION: In this group of PLWD in the Ho Municipality, high levels of inactivity, uncontrolled glycaemia and blood pressure exist. However, glycaemic and blood pressure control may be modulated by moderate-intensity physical activity.

Real-world impact of ongoing regular exercise in overweight and obese US adults with diabetes on health care utilization and expenses.

AIMS: To assess the effect of regular exercise on health care utilization patterns and expenses in a real-world national sample of overweight and obese US adults with diabetes. METHODS: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data (2010-2015) identified adults with diabetes and a body mass index (kg/m2) ≥25. Two groups were created: exercise (moderate or vigorous physical activity >30min at least five times weekly) and non-exercise groups. OUTCOMES MEASURED: average total health care expenses (per-person per-annum) and the likelihood of hospitalization. RESULTS: Among 5140 overweight and obese adults with diabetes, 49.1% reported exercising at least five times weekly. The exercise group showed lower medical care and prescription drug utilization than the non-exercise group (p<0.001). Total unadjusted health expenses in the exercise group were $5651 lower than the non-exercise group (p<0.001). After controlling for socioeconomic and health-related variables, regular exercise reduced total health care expenses by 22.1% (p<0.001) and the likelihood of hospitalization by 28% (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Reduced hospitalization and health care expenses were associated with regular exercise (≥30min at least five times weekly) in overweight and obese adults with diabetes.

[Diabetes Mellitus in the Medical Rehabilitation - Use of Rehabilitation Services During 2006-2013]. / Diabetes Mellitus in der medizinischen Rehabilitation ­ Inanspruchnahme rehabilitativer Maßnahmen im Zeitraum 2006­2013.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Over the last years the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has risen. Due to the disease pattern an increasing importance of rehabilitation services is assumed as well. This article contributs to the debate by analyising the use of medical rehabilitations from 2006 to 2013. METHODS: The secondary data analysis is based on a scientific use file. DM is defined according to ICD-10 (E10-E14). The trends stratified by age and gender are displayed crude and standardized per 100.000. The use will be correlated with the population-based prevalence on the level of federal states. RESULTS: The standardized use rose from 2006 to 2013 in men from 170 to 204.4 and woman from 99 to 123.6 per 100.000. While it declined for people under 60 years old, it rose by about 80% in the age group of the 60-64 year-olds. The use correlated positively (r=0.64) with the population-based prevalence. CONCLUSION: As a result of increasingly late retierment, the importance of rehabilitation services in people with DM incesases.

Doce Vida - programa de exercício físico supervisionado para diabéticos / Dulce Vida - Programa de ejercicio supervisado para diabéticos / Sweet Life-Program of supervised physical exercise for diabetics

Objetivo: Apresentar o Doce Vida - programa de exercício físico supervisionado para diabéticos como estratégia para promoção e supervisão do exercício físico para pacientes diabéticos. Métodos: O Doce Vida caracteriza‐se como um programa de pesquisa e extensão universitária da Universidade de Pernambuco. Acontece três vezes por semana. Antes e após todas as sessões de exercício físico são avaliadas as variáveis glicêmicas e hemodinâmicas dos diabéticos. São realizadas avaliações físicas, palestras educativas e atividades de pesquisa. Resultados: O Doce Vida já atendeu diversos diabéticos nesses cinco anos, construiu um amplo banco de dados e, até ao início do mês de junho de 2015, mais de 72 350 dados já foram tabulados. Ao analisar a média da glicemia capilar dos participantes do Doce Vida durante esses cinco anos, podemos apresentar uma redução estatisticamente significativa de 49 mg/dL (181.0 ± 61.3 vs. 132.0 ± 61.0, p = 0.001). Conclusão: Programas deste cunho são eficazes no controle da diabetes, porém ainda são pouco divulgados. Assim sendo, é de suma importância a divulgação de propostas semelhante ao Doce Vida, que atua como estratégia efetiva de promoção e supervisão do exercício físico para diabéticos

Objetivo: Presentar Dulce Vida - Programa de ejercicio físico supervisado para diabéticos como una estrategia para la promoción y la supervisión del ejercicio físico para los pacientes diabéticos. Métodos: El programa Dulce Vida es un programa de investigación y extensión universitaria de la Universidad de Pernambuco. Las sesiones de ejercicio se celebran tres veces por semana. Antes y después de cada sesión de ejercicio se evalúa la glucemia y las variables hemodinámicas de los diabéticos. Se realizan evaluaciones físicas, charlas educativas y encuestas. Resultados: En el programa Dulce Vida han participado muchos diabéticos en estos cinco años, se elaboró una base de datos completa en la que se han incluido, hasta principios de junio de 2015, los datos de más de 72 350 participantes. Mediante el análisis de la glucemia media de los participantes en el programa Dulce Vida durante esos cinco años, podemos presentar una reducción estadísticamente significativa de 49 mg/dl (181.0 ± 61.3 vs. 132.0 ± 61.0, p = 0.001). Conclusiones: Los programas de esta naturaleza son eficaces en el control de la diabetes, pero aún son poco divulgados. Por lo tanto, es de suma importancia la divulgación de propuestas similares al programa Dulce Vida, que actúa como una estrategia eficaz para la promoción y supervisión de ejercicio para los diabéticos

Objectives: To present Sweet Life-Supervised Exercise Program for Diabetics as a strategy for promoting and supervising the exercise for diabetic patients. Methods: Sweet Life is characterized as a Research Program and University Extension of the University of Pernambuco. Exercise sessions are held three times a week. Before and after each exercise session, blood glucose and hemodynamic variables of diabetics are evaluated. Physical evaluations, educational talks and surveys are carried out. Results: In the Sweet Life program, many diabetics have participated in these five years, a complete database has been developed which, until the beginning of June 2015, has included data from more than 72 350 participants. By analyzing the mean blood glucose of the participants in the Sweet Life program during those five years, we can present a statistically significant reduction of 49 mg/dl (181.0 ± 61.3 vs. 132.0 ± 61.0, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Programs of this nature are effective in controlling diabetes, but are still poorly publicized. Therefore, the dissemination of proposals similar to the Sweet Life program, which acts as an effective strategy for the promotion and supervision of exercise for diabetics, is extremely important

The Role of Physical Exercise in Obesity and Diabetes.

SUMMARY: The prevalence of obesity is increasing world-wide. Obesity is associated with a plethora of metabolic and clinical constraints, which result in a higher risk for the development of cardiovascular complications and metabolic disease, particularly insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Obesity is an acknowledged determinant of glycemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes and accounts for the majority of premature death due to cardiovascular events. Physical exercise is generally recommended in patients with diabetes in order to prevent the development of or reduce existing obesity, as adopted by every international treatment guideline so far. Regular physical exercise has a beneficial impact on body composition, cardiovascular integrity, insulin sensitivity and quality of life. However, only a minority of patients participates in regular physical exercise, due to individual or disease-related barriers. In type 2 diabetes, there is robust evidence for beneficial effects of physical exercise on glycemic control, cardiovascular health and the development of diabetes-related long-term complications. In type 1 diabetes and patients treated with insulin, a higher risk for exercise-related hypoglycemia has to be considered, which requires certain prerequisites and adequate adaptions of insulin dosing. Current treatment guidelines do only incompletely address the development of exercise-related hypoglycemia. However, every patient with diabetes should participate in regular physical exercise in order to support and enable sufficient treatment and optimal glycemic control.

The impact of service and hearing dogs on health-related quality of life and activity level: a Swedish longitudinal intervention study.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with severe disability often require personal assistance and help from informal caregivers, in addition to conventional health care. The utilization of assistance dogs may decrease the need for health and social care and increase the independence of these individuals. Service and hearing dogs are trained to assist specific individuals and can be specialized to meet individual needs. The aim of this study was to describe and explore potential consequences for health-related quality of life, well-being and activity level, of having a certified service or hearing dog. METHODS: A longitudinal interventional study with a pre-post design was conducted. At inclusion, all participants in the study had a regular (untrained) companion dog. Data were collected before training of the dog started and three months after certification of the dog. Health-related quality of life was assessed with EQ-5D-3L, EQ-VAS and RAND-36. Well-being was measured with WHO-5 and self-esteem with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. In addition, questions were asked about physical activity and time spent away from home and on social activities. Subgroups were analyzed for physical service and diabetes alert dogs. RESULTS: Fifty-five owner-and-dog pairs completed the study (30 physical service dogs, 20 diabetes alert dogs, 2 epilepsy alert dogs, and 3 hearing dogs). Initially, study participants reported low health-related quality of life compared with the general population. At follow-up, health-related quality of life measured with the EQ-VAS, well-being and level of physical activity had improved significantly. In the subgroup analysis, physical service dog owners had lower health-related quality of life than diabetes alert dog owners. The improvement from baseline to follow-up measured with EQ-5D statistically differed between the subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: The target population for service and hearing dogs has an overall low health-related quality of life. Our study indicates that having a certified service or hearing dog may have positive impact on health-related quality of life, well-being and activity level. Service and hearing dogs are a potentially important "wagging tail aid" for this vulnerable population, able to alleviate strain, increase independence, and decrease the risk of social isolation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was retrospectively registered in http://clinicaltrial.gov , NCT03270592. September, 2017.

Occupational Therapy Intervention Improves Glycemic Control and Quality of Life Among Young Adults With Diabetes: the Resilient, Empowered, Active Living with Diabetes (REAL Diabetes) Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of a manualized occupational therapy (OT) intervention (Resilient, Empowered, Active Living with Diabetes [REAL Diabetes]) to improve glycemic control and psychosocial well-being among ethnically diverse young adults with low socioeconomic status (SES) who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Eighty-one young adults (age 22.6 ± 3.5 years; hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] = 10.8%/95 mmol/mol ± 1.9%/20.8 mmol/mol) were randomly assigned to the REAL Diabetes intervention group (IG) or an attention control group (CG) over 6 months. IG participants received biweekly sessions guided by a manual composed of seven content modules; CG participants received standardized educational materials and biweekly phone calls. Blinded assessors collected data at baseline and 6 months. The primary outcome was HbA1c; secondary outcomes included diabetes self-care, diabetes-related quality of life (QOL), diabetes distress, depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction. Change scores were analyzed using Wilcoxon rank sum tests. RESULTS: Intent-to-treat analyses showed that IG participants showed significant improvement in HbA1c (-0.57%/6.2 mmol/mol vs. +0.36%/3.9 mmol/mol, P = 0.01), diabetes-related QOL (+0.7 vs. +0.15, P = 0.04), and habit strength for checking blood glucose (+3.9 vs. +1.7, P = 0.05) as compared with CG participants. There was no statistically significant effect modification by sex, ethnicity, diabetes type, recruitment site, or SES. No study-related serious adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The REAL Diabetes intervention improved blood glucose control and diabetes-related QOL among a typically hard-to-reach population, thus providing evidence that a structured OT intervention may be beneficial in improving both clinical and psychosocial outcomes among individuals with diabetes.