Abstract
Regular physical activity is considered to be one of the basic behavioral modifications in patients with diabetes mellitus. Although in patients with type 1 diabetes exercise increases mainly a cardiovascular fitness, it has a more extensive therapeutic effects for type 2 diabetics.
A majority of type 2 diabetics suffer from another conditions such as abdominal obesity and hypertension and have laboratory abnormalities (diabetic dyslipidemia, elevation of procoagulants), associated with the syndrome of insulin resistance. Physical activity lowers the level of glucose and procoagulants, induces positively changes of lipids in serum, decreases abdominal obesity and arterial hypertension.
In patients treated with diet, exercise can defer the need of transition to oral antidiabetics and/or insulin therapy. Physical activity contributes to o reduction of pharmacotherapy.
Physical exercise represents a temporary oxidative stress, which activates intracellular processes thus enhancing protection from a chronic oxidative stress associated with DM. These effects of physical activity lead to a deceleration of development and/or progression of an atherosclerotic-trombogenetic process and decrease the risk of cardiovascular events, which are the major cause of disability and early death of patients with diabetes.