ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the different treatment options for managing glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes. It explains the effects type 2 diabetes and its associated complications can have on an individual’s ability to exercise. The chapter outlines the effects of exercise on insulin resistance and the potential benefits on glycaemic control and cardiovascular risk factor modification. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), is a complex heterogeneous disease which affects around 90% of those individuals with diabetes. The majority of insulin action occurs on muscle cells; indeed, skeletal muscle is the largest insulin-sensing organ of the body and is responsible for 85% of whole body glucose uptake. Hypertension affects the vast majority of patients with diabetes and is associated with a higher risk of both cardiovascular disease and progressive renal dysfunction. In conjunction with glycaemic control and blood pressure, optimisation of lipids is vital to facilitate improvement in overall cardiovascular disease risk.
