High-Intensity Interval Training for Type 2 Diabetes

Overseen By Eléonor Riesco, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Université de Sherbrooke

Must not be taking: Insulin, Beta blockers

Disqualifiers: Stroke, Coronary disease, Neuropathy, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 7

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how different lengths of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) might benefit people with type 2 diabetes. The researchers aim to determine if longer workout intervals can reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, and increase blood vessel flexibility, potentially reducing heart problem risks. Participants will engage in two types of HIIT workouts—one with shorter intervals and one with longer intervals—to compare the effects. This trial suits individuals with type 2 diabetes who manage their blood pressure, consume little or no alcohol, do not smoke, and are already somewhat active. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding how HIIT can benefit those with type 2 diabetes.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you cannot participate if you are on insulin therapy or beta blockers, or if your medication has been unstable in the past 6 months.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research shows that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is generally safe for people with various health conditions. Studies have found that individuals with heart issues and those over 67 years old can safely engage in HIIT by monitoring heart rate, blood pressure, and other health indicators.

For the HIIT-10 program, evidence suggests it is safe and well-tolerated in various settings, including for those with heart diseases, with no major safety issues reported.

Similarly, the HIIT-4 program has a strong safety record. Research supports its safety for improving exercise ability and other health aspects in different groups, including those with liver conditions.

In summary, both HIIT-10 and HIIT-4 appear to be safe options based on past research. They are well-tolerated and have been tested in different groups without significant safety problems. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores how different lengths of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions might reduce complications linked to Type 2 Diabetes. Unlike standard treatments like medication or continuous moderate exercise, HIIT offers a time-efficient workout that can potentially improve cardiovascular health and glucose metabolism quicker. The trial will help determine whether shorter or longer HIIT intervals offer more significant clinical benefits, providing insights into optimizing exercise prescriptions for those managing Type 2 Diabetes.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for reducing cardiovascular disease risk in type 2 diabetes patients?

Studies have shown that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) effectively improves health in people with type 2 diabetes. Research indicates that HIIT significantly enhances blood vessel function by lowering blood pressure. This exercise also boosts aerobic capacity, aiding heart and lung function. It improves body composition by reducing bad cholesterol and enhancing other key health indicators. In this trial, participants will experience both HIIT-10 and HIIT-4, which have demonstrated these benefits, though the different interval lengths might yield slightly different results. Overall, HIIT offers a promising approach to managing diabetes and reducing the risk of complications like heart disease. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Inclusion Criteria

Low or no alcohol consumption (≤ 7 alcoholic beverages/week)

You have been regularly exercising for at least 60 minutes per week for the past 3 months.

Arterial hypertension (controlled at rest)

Exclusion Criteria

Surgery scheduled during the study period

Unstable medication in the past 6 months

Neuropathy, retinopathy of nephropathy diagnostics

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Rest

Participants undergo a rest condition as a baseline measure before HIIT interventions

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

HIIT-4

Participants perform high-intensity interval training with 4x4 minute intervals

1 week

3 visits (in-person)

HIIT-10

Participants perform high-intensity interval training with 10x1 minute intervals

1 week

3 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in clinical parameters such as blood pressure and glycemic control

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• High-intensity interval training (HIIT)-10
• High-intensity interval training (HIIT)-4
• Rest

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Rest, HIIT-4, HIIT-10 Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Both arms start with the rest condition and the order of the two other conditions (HIIT-4 and HIIT-10) is determined at random. This arm's sequence of intervention is : 1-Rest; 2- HIIT-4 and 3- HIIT-10.

Group II: Rest, HIIT-10, HIIT-4 Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Both arms start with the rest condition and the order of the two other conditions (HIIT-4 and HIIT-10) is determined at random. This arm's sequence of intervention is : 1- Rest; 2- HIIT-10 and 3- HIIT-4.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Université de Sherbrooke

Lead Sponsor

Trials

317

Recruited

79,300+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A scoping review of 69 studies on high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in older adults found that HIIT protocols are generally well-tolerated and can provide significant health benefits, particularly in improving cardiorespiratory fitness.

Most research has focused on healthy older adults, highlighting a need for larger studies and more investigation into HIIT's effects on older adults with various health conditions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

High-Intensity Interval Training in Older Adults: a Scoping Review. Marriott, CFS., Petrella, AFM., Marriott, ECS., et al.[2021]

In a randomized controlled trial involving 24 patients with acute pulmonary embolism, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) significantly improved exercise capacity (eV˙O2max increased by 65%), lung function (FEV1 improved by 17%), and right ventricular function (RV/LV ratio decreased by 27%) over 8 weeks.

The HIIT program was safe, with all participants tolerating the exercise without serious adverse events, while the control group showed no improvements and even a slight decline in lung function.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

High-Intensity Interval Training in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Ghram, A., Jenab, Y., Soori, R., et al.[2023]

A systematic review of 11 studies involving 156 clinically stable patients with cardiometabolic diseases found that high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) can lead to adverse responses in about 8% of individuals, indicating a higher risk compared to moderate-intensity exercise.

It is recommended that patients with cardiometabolic diseases who wish to engage in HIIE should be clinically stable, have prior experience with moderate-intensity exercise, and exercise under supervision to ensure safety.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Fitter: A Systematic Review of High-Intensity Interval Exercise for Patients with Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases. Levinger, I., Shaw, CS., Stepto, NK., et al.[2022]

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to significantly improve various health outcomes, including cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle mass, and mental health indicators like anxiety and depression, across diverse populations, as evidenced by 33 systematic reviews involving both healthy individuals and those with health complications.

HIIT is considered safe, with no reported acute injuries and high adherence rates exceeding 80%, suggesting it is a feasible exercise option for many people.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Can high-intensity interval training improve physical and mental health outcomes? A meta-review of 33 systematic reviews across the lifespan. Martland, R., Mondelli, V., Gaughran, F., et al.[2023]

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is as effective, if not more so, than traditional moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) for patients with cardiovascular disease, based on a systematic review of 23 studies involving 1117 participants.

The safety profile of HIIT in cardiac rehabilitation is promising, with only one major cardiovascular adverse event reported per 17,083 training sessions, indicating that HIIT can be safely implemented in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

High-Intensity Interval Training for Patients With Cardiovascular Disease-Is It Safe? A Systematic Review. Wewege, MA., Ahn, D., Yu, J., et al.[2021]

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to significantly improve cardiorespiratory fitness in breast cancer survivors, based on a review of 13 randomized controlled trials.

All HIIT interventions were supervised and lab-based, indicating a need for further research into the feasibility and effectiveness of home-based or unsupervised HIIT programs for this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

High-intensity interval training in breast cancer survivors: a systematic review. Tsuji, K., Matsuoka, YJ., Ochi, E.[2021]

A randomized trial involving 151 patients with operable lung cancer found that preoperative high-intensity interval training (HIIT) rehabilitation did not lead to significant improvements in pulmonary function or aerobic capacity one year after surgery.

Both the rehabilitation group and the usual care group showed similar reductions in peak oxygen uptake and peak work rate, indicating that the short-term HIIT intervention did not enhance long-term postoperative outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Short-term preoperative exercise therapy does not improve long-term outcome after lung cancer surgery: a randomized controlled study. Karenovics, W., Licker, M., Ellenberger, C., et al.[2022]

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) significantly improves cardiorespiratory fitness (measured as peak V̇O2) in cancer patients and survivors compared to usual care, with a mean difference of 2.11 ml kg-1 min-1.

HIIT shows similar effectiveness to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in improving peak V̇O2, while also demonstrating better adherence rates (71.2% to 95.6%) and no serious adverse events reported.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

High-intensity interval training improves cardiorespiratory fitness in cancer patients and survivors: A meta-analysis. Wallen, MP., Hennessy, D., Brown, S., et al.[2021]

In a study involving 240 women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, 16 weeks of concurrent resistance and high-intensity interval training (RT-HIIT) significantly improved muscle strength and reduced pain sensitivity compared to usual care.

Both RT-HIIT and moderate-intensity aerobic plus high-intensity interval training (AT-HIIT) effectively prevented declines in cardiorespiratory fitness and limited increases in body mass, demonstrating that these exercise programs are safe and beneficial during chemotherapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Highly favorable physiological responses to concurrent resistance and high-intensity interval training during chemotherapy: the OptiTrain breast cancer trial. Mijwel, S., Backman, M., Bolam, KA., et al.[2019]

Higher-intensity interval training (HIIT) was safely integrated into a standard cardiac rehabilitation program for 39 patients, with no hospitalizations reported during or after exercise, indicating its safety for patients with stable coronary heart disease.

HIIT led to a significantly greater improvement in peak oxygen uptake (3.6 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) compared to moderate-intensity continuous training (1.7 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹), demonstrating its efficacy in enhancing cardiorespiratory fitness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Greater improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness using higher-intensity interval training in the standard cardiac rehabilitation setting. Keteyian, SJ., Hibner, BA., Bronsteen, K., et al.[2022]

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HIIT is more effective than MICT in improving body composition and certain biochemical indicators, specifically TC, LDL-C, ALT, UA, and TG, in ...

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HIIT may offer the same health benefits as regular exercise in less time and help reduce body fat, heart rate, and blood pressure.

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The present study showed that HIIT was safe and feasible in a supervised setting for a group of carefully screened patients aged 67–102 years ...