Glucose metabolism during physical exercise in patients with noninsulin-dependent (type II) diabetes

Pattern management: a tool for improving blood glucose control with exercise

Pattern management can help the person with type 1 diabetes to understand glycemic response to activity, make reasonable management decisions, and evaluate the effectiveness of adjustments to exercise. Insulin adjustments and carbohydrate supplementation can be used independently or in conjunction to maintain target-range blood glucose levels during activity. To achieve success, the patient must be encouraged to gather data through self-monitoring of blood glucose and diligent recordkeeping, analyze information collected, make careful adjustments, and assess outcomes.

Glucose metabolism and catecholamine responses during physical exercise in non-insulin-dependent diabetes

Blood glucose, lactate, insulin, C-peptide, norepinephrine and epinephrine concentrations were determined in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients and in healthy controls before, during and after moderate exercise, to evaluate the effects of physical exercise on glucoregulation. Ten diabetic and ten healthy control females bicycled 14 minutes at 60% of their maximal heart rates. In the diabetic patients, there were no significant changes in blood glucose levels post-exercise, while in controls the 60 minute post-exercise levels were higher than those measured in mid-exercise (p < 0.05). Lactate concentrations increased with exercise in both groups in a similar manner, with highest values at the end of exercise. No significant changes in insulin and C-peptide levels were induced with exercise in either group. Norepinephrine and epinephrine concentrations increased 2.5-3 fold with exercise in both groups (p < 0.05 for all values) but in the diabetics an earlier and prolonged catecholamine response was observed. We propose that catecholamines prevent hypoglycaemia during exercise when changes in insulin and C-peptide do not occur. In diabetic patients with good metabolic control, the glucoregulatory response to exercise is not worse than in anthropometrically similar controls with similar levels of fitness.

Mitochondrial damage as a source of diseases and aging: a strategy of how to fight these

Some aspects of a defense against an oxidative stress are reviewed. All these aspects are focused on the necessity to defend mtDNA against damage. Protecting mechanisms involve the regulation of mitochondrial transport of nucleic acids, and the development of antioxygen defense as preventive measures. In the first case an exclusive role is supposed to play the mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptor and components, regulating the activity of its participants (mitochondrial porin and adenine nucleotide translocator). The possible transport of nucleic acids through Ca(2+)-dependent permeability transition pore, representing one of the functional states of mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptor, is put forth. Such mechanisms can also cover the genomic nuclear-mitochondrial exchange. The second aspect reviews the possible complex of measures to lower the harmful effect of oxygen. Among these measures are mild uncoupling, the opening of a permeability transition pore and cellular apoptosis as was recently suggested by Skulachev. Problems such as cellular aging and mitochondrial diseases, are discussed in light of the relevance to the problem of oxidative stress.