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BACKGROUND: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a global health concern associated with numerous complications. Aerobic exercise is recognized as a crucial non-pharmacological intervention for T2DM management, but its specific effects on key health parameters warrant further investigation. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a structured 8-week aerobic exercise program on fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), and resting heart rate (RHR) in individuals with T2DM. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted with 100 participants diagnosed with T2DM. The intervention group (n = 50) underwent a supervised aerobic exercise program for eight weeks, while the control group (n = 50) received no structured exercise intervention. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted to measure FBG, HbA1c, BMI, BP, RHR, and VO2 max were taken. RESULTS: The aerobic group exhibited a significant reduction in FBG, declining from 141 to 132 mg/dl. Correspondingly, HbA1c decreased from 7.93 to 7.15%. Additionally, the aerobic group demonstrated a notable decrease in RHR from 72 to 66 bpm, indicating improved cardiovascular fitness. Concurrently, VO2 max increased from 22 to 26 mL/kg/min, further supporting the enhancement of cardiorespiratory capacity. Trends toward improvement were also observed in SBP and DBP. Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between various health parameters, highlighting the interconnectedness of these variables in T2DM management. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides robust evidence supporting the benefits of aerobic exercise in individuals with T2DM. The improvements in glycemic control, blood pressure, and cardiorespiratory fitness underscore the importance of incorporating structured exercise programs into diabetes management protocols. The results emphasize the importance of incorporating regular physical activity into diabetes management strategies to optimize health outcomes and reduce the risk of complications.
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Background: International students are often exposed to various challenges during life transitions. The 'mindsponge' mechanism suggests that individuals absorb and integrate new cultural values that are compatible with their core values while rejecting those of lesser importance. On the basis of this notion, this article explores the experiences of international students in China regarding their unplanned return to their home countries during the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of the mindsponge mechanism. Aim: This article aims to highlight the experiences of international students in China who are going through life transitions due to the global pandemic. The study focuses on the experiences of two groups of international students: (1) Those who remained in China during the pandemic, and (2) those who had left China and were stranded in their home countries due to a ban on international travel amid COVID-19. Method: This qualitative study comprised of in-depth semi structured in-person and online interviews. Thematic Analysis was used to analyze the data in order to generate study themes. Results: The results revealed that students who remained in China experienced challenges which included anxiety, closure of campuses, lockdown, their parents' concern regarding health issues, and not being able to meet with friends. On the other hand, students who had left China during the pandemic were confined to their home countries. This group of students experienced more severe problems than the students who remained in China. Since the transition to home countries was "unplanned," they were not ready to readjust to their native culture and were vulnerable to severe reverse culture shock. Upon returning to their home countries, international students faced a number of challenges, including readjustment to their home countries and changes in their lives in host and home countries. In addition, they lost social and academic resources, such as the disruption of study environment, losing important group memberships, financial constraints, visa expiry, graduation delay, and academic suspension. Conclusion: This study concluded that the international students experienced cultural problems after unplanned transition to their home countries during the pandemic. They described effects of reverse culture shock as being more distressing. They perceived dissatisfaction due to loss of previously held social identities and sense of belonging to the traditional society they left behind. There is a need of future studies on the long-term effect of unplanned transition on psychological, social and professional experiences. The process of readjustment has proven to be a challenging endeavor.
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AIM: To minimize the spread of COVID-19, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) enforced a nationwide lockdown. We aimed to explore whether the manner in which Saudi patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) manage their disease has changed during this unparalleled lockdown. METHODS: An online survey exploring the effect of lockdown on T1D outcomes was distributed among T1D patients residing in KSA during lockdown. RESULTS: A total of 1010 patients responded to the survey. Around 40% reported communicating with their physicians during lockdown. Age, level of education, residence, previous visits to diabetes education clinics, last HbA1c value, and average monthly income were all significantly associated with communication with the treating physician (p = 0.008, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.002, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). Age, level of education, and average monthly income were significantly associated with experiencing severe hypoglycemia (p = 0.036, p = 0.03, and p < 0.001, respectively), while average monthly income and level of education were significantly associated with experiencing diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) (p < 0.001 and p = 0.0039, respectively); during lockdown. Patients who communicated with their physicians reported lower rates of severe hypoglycemia compared to those who did not (25.2% vs 30.7%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Age and level of education were significantly associated with communication with the treating physician, and experiencing severe hypoglycemia and DKA; in patients with T1D during the lockdown period in Saudi Arabia. Keeping two-way virtual communication channels between physicians and their T1D patients should be encouraged.