Does exercise help patients with type 1 diabetes?

A new study to assess the benefits of exercise for adults with type 1 diabetes led by Dr Rob Andrews, Consultant Senior Lecturer in Diabetes and Endocrinology at the University of Bristol’s School of Clinical Sciences is about to start in the South West.
Type 1 diabetes is different from type 2 diabetes, which is associated with being overweight and can be treated through diet and tablets initially.  Whilst the benefits of exercise have been investigated in type 2 diabetes, it is not known whether the same benefits apply to type 1 diabetes.

The study is being funded through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under its Research for Patient Benefit Programme (RfPB) and will recruit throughout both the South West England and the West Midlands.  The South West study will be led by Dr Rob Andrews, Consultant Senior Lecturer in Diabetes and Endocrinology at the University of Bristol’s School of Clinical Sciences.

The study aims to investigate the benefits of regular exercise in adults newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.  In particular it will examine whether exercise can preserve insulin secretion, which is important for controlling blood sugar levels.  Controlling blood sugar levels in patients with type 1 diabetes is the cornerstone to reducing the risks of diabetic complications such as blindness and kidney failure.

Dr Rob Andrews said: “We already know that exercise is of benefit for people with type 2 diabetes.  Our study aims to find out whether increased physical activity also helps people with type 1 diabetes.”

The research will be co-ordinated by the Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and involves the University of Bristol and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB), the University of Birmingham and the University of Bath.

Newly-diagnosed patients over the age of 16 will be recruited over two years, starting mid-March 2011, and will remain in the study for a year.

They will be randomly allocated into two groups, with one group receiving normal treatment and the other encouraged to also adhere to a simple and safe exercise programme, which increases their activity levels to 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity exercise – the level recommended by the Department of Health.

The study aims to recruit 60 people with type 1 diabetes - 30 will be recruited from the South West and 30 from the greater Birmingham area.