ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on the role of exercise for the management of diabetes in adults aged over 60 years. Extensive epidemiological and experimental evidence supports the importance of regular physical activity and exercise training for the management of type 2 diabetes. In 2006, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) published a consensus statement containing revised exercise recommendations for people with type 2 diabetes based on an earlier technical review of the evidence available in the literature. The ADA guidelines recommend that vigorous exercise be avoided in the presence of ketosis; however, in the absence of very severe insulin deficiency, light- or moderate-intensity exercise may have beneficial effects on glucose levels. Regular physical training can also lead to improvements in blood pressure and blood lipid and lipoprotein levels, particularly in those at increased risk due to elevated levels or in patients with coronary heart disease and insulin resistance.