Exercise fails to help diabetes control

Researchers determined that newly diagnosed diabetics have improved glycemic control if they receive intensive dietary counseling within the first year of their diagnosis of the disease. Patients who also had a monitored exercise regimen did not see any significant benefit from adding exercise to their routine. Just an extra 6 1/2 hours of dietary counseling resulted in significant reductions in glycated hemoglobin (Hemoglobin A1C) after 6 months and a year compared with patients who only received the basic diet advice. And while studies have indicated that aerobic and resistance exercise along with diet can lower glycated hemoglobin, there were no differences in their study results among those who had the intensive counseling and exercise compared to those who had just the intensive counseling. Further research is needed to determine whether different kinds of exercise, longer interventions or intervention at an earlier or later stage of diabetes will produce benefits comparable to dietary changes alone. Researchers involved in the study do recommend revamping diabetes services to increase dietary management at an early stage.* Elise Ervin Staff Writer