Effects of Nordic Walking on Some of the Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Older Women with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction. Daily exercising is an integral part in the management of type 2 diabetes (Parkatti et al., 2012; Balducci et al., 2017). Persons suffering from type 2 diabetes, are recommended for moderate intensity physical activity to vigorous aerobic exercise, at least for 150 minutes a week (American Diabetes Association, 2014). Walking, as a typical low intensity exercise form, is the most popular and most preferred among patients with type 2 diabetes (Skorkowska-Telichowska et al., 2016). Walking has positive effects on blood pressure control (Lee et al., 2010), weight loss, fatness (Figard-Fabre et al., 2011), fitness and cardiovascular disease risk prevention (Tschentscher et al., 2013; Qiu et al., 2014). Nordic Walking is one of the best physical activity forms to achieve positive effects on the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal system because of the higher activity in the muscles involved in the Nordic Walking technique (Perez-Soriano et al., 2014).

Aim of the research was to assess the effects of Nordic walking on body composition, blood pressure, functional capacity, glycemic and cholesterol control in older women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods. Long-term exercise programme, which duration was 12-weeks, consisted of moderate-intensity Nordic walking 3 times a week, outside, in the afternoon, 60 minutes duration. Sixteen women with T2DM participated in the open label study. Mean age of participants was 62.7±2.4 years. Body weight (kg), body mass index (BMI), percentage fat mass, waist and hip circumference, the haemoglobin A_1c (HbA1c) level, blood cholesterol level and functional capacity (6 min. walking test) was assessed before and after 12-weeks aerobic exercises programme. Capillary blood glucose concentration, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) were measured before and after each workout.

Results. Body weight (from 79.9±7.3 to 77.9±2.5 kg, p<0.001), fat mass (from 38,5±3,9 to 36,9±3,9 %, p<0.05), waist and hip circumference ratio (from 0,89±0,1 to 0,81±0,1, p<0.05), HbA1C level (from 7.6 ± 0.4 to 7.0±0.5%, p<0.05), SBP (from 142±16,8 to 135±13,1 mmHg, p<0.001) and HR (from 72±7,0 to 69±3,4 beats/min, p<0.001) significantly decreased after long-term aerobic exercise programme. Walked distance increased (from 545±62,7 to 635±69,8 m, p<0.05), glucose level (from 7,1±1,6 to 5,6±0,2 mmol/l, p<0.001) and cholesterol level (from 5,86±0,4 to 5,42±0,4 mmol/l, p<0.05) was improved for all diabetic women after 12-weeks duration Nordic walking programme.

Conclusions. Nordic walking has positive impact on body composition, blood pressure functional capacity, glycemic and cholesterol control in older persons having type 2 diabetes mellitus