Regular exercise is among the most common recommendations given to people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) as a way of managing the condition and improving their overall health.
Now those with T2D have the opportunity to do regular exercise that could improve the health of others with the condition as well as their own.
Researchers from Victoria University’s (VU) are calling on people with T2D to take part in their study looking into how exercise impacts bone, muscle, and fat interactions in those with the condition.
In order to find out, researchers require participants in the study to come to VU’s Footscray Park campus for regular high intensity, interval training (HIIT) sessions.
“They do it three times per week for 10 weeks,” explained researcher and PhD candidate Jiawen Huang of how often participants will have to train, adding that muscle and fat biopsies and full body scans will be required as well.
“We want to find out the combination between the fat and muscle and how the body uses them to regulate the blood glucose level.”
Ms Huang and fellow researcher and PhD candidate Rhiannon Healy are conducting the study under the supervision of Professor Itamar Levinger from VU’s Institute of Health and Sport.
Professor Levinger said the main aim of the study is to uncover the role of bone hormones known as osteokines in the prevention, management and treatment of T2D and if this role is sex specific.
“We know that individuals with T2D have lower levels of osteokines and osteokine levels also appear to be sex-specific,” Professor Levinger said.
“Because we know that bone density is different between men and women, we would like to see the effect of exercise on these bone hormones, is sex specific?”
Participants for the study are still needed, with professional health assessments and gift cards worth up to $100 on offer for those who sign up.
It’s hoped the study will be completed by the end of this year.
Those interested in participating should email jiawen.huang1@live.vu.edu.au
