Exercise for Type 2 Diabetes

(ACELERATE-P Trial)

Overseen By Recruitment Department

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: AdventHealth Translational Research Institute

Must not be taking: Insulin, Incretin mimetics, Thiazolidinediones

Disqualifiers: Hypertension, Cancer, Smoking, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

12 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how exercise affects the liver's glucose production, particularly in individuals with Type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease. Participants will be divided into two groups: one with Type 2 diabetes and fatty liver, and another of healthy individuals. Ideal candidates have Type 2 diabetes, a BMI between 25 and 45, engage in less than one day of structured exercise per week, and have maintained stable weight for at least three months. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to groundbreaking research that could enhance the understanding and management of Type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial requires that you stop taking any medications that interfere with glucose metabolism for certain visits. If you are currently taking insulin, incretin mimetics, or thiazolidinediones, you cannot participate. Please discuss with the trial team to understand how your specific medications might be affected.

What prior data suggests that exercise is safe for individuals with and without Type 2 diabetes?

Research has shown that exercise is generally safe for people with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and usually doesn't cause major problems. One study found that planned exercise routines can reduce the risk of heart issues for those with T2D, with less than 1% experiencing serious heart-related events. Another report indicated that low- to moderate-intensity exercise carries a low risk of negative side effects. Overall, exercise is well-tolerated and poses minimal risk for people with T2D. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using acute exercise as a treatment for type 2 diabetes because it offers a drug-free, natural way to manage the condition. Unlike traditional treatments like metformin or insulin injections, which focus on regulating blood sugar levels through medication, exercise directly improves insulin sensitivity and helps reduce liver fat. This approach not only addresses the symptoms but also targets underlying issues, potentially offering a holistic improvement in health without the side effects associated with medication. By integrating exercise, patients could see improvements in overall fitness and well-being, making it a promising complementary strategy.

What evidence suggests that acute exercise might be an effective treatment for Type 2 diabetes?

This trial will compare the effects of exercise on individuals with type 2 diabetes and hepatic steatosis to lean, healthy controls. Research has shown that exercise can effectively help manage type 2 diabetes and fatty liver. Studies indicate that both high-intensity and regular exercise can improve liver health by reducing fat in the liver. One study found that exercise can decrease liver fat even without weight loss. Another study demonstrated that small amounts of exercise can strengthen muscles and improve heart health, which may also help reduce liver fat. Overall, exercise appears to help control blood sugar levels and improve liver health in people with type 2 diabetes and fatty liver. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Justine Mucinski, PhD

Principal Investigator

AdventHealth

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals with Type 2 Diabetes, particularly those who may also have fatty liver disease. Participants should be able to perform physical exercise and undergo body scans like DEXA and MRI.

Inclusion Criteria

I have signed a consent form to participate.

Lean, healthy controls: Normal liver fat (FibroScan CAP <249dB/m, <5.6% liver fat based on MRI)

I am willing and available to follow the study rules for its entire duration.

Exclusion Criteria

I have type 2 diabetes and a liver fat level of 5.6% or higher, and I am currently taking beta-blockers.

Individuals with T2D and elevated liver fat ≥5.6%: Alcohol consumption above specified limits

Lean, healthy controls: Presence of clinically significant abnormalities on electrocardiogram (ECG) that is a contra-indication to exercise testing

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Exercise Intervention

Participants undergo exercise sessions to study the effects on endogenous glucose production

2 weeks

Multiple sessions (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after exercise intervention

2-4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Acute Exercise

Trial Overview The study is examining how acute exercise affects the liver's glucose production in people with Type 2 Diabetes, which could influence treatment strategies for glycemic control and fatty liver.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Lean, healthy controls Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Control group.

Group II: Individuals with T2D and hepatic steatosis Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

T2D group.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

AdventHealth Translational Research Institute

Lead Sponsor

Trials

51

Recruited

5,900+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6759427/

Effects of different exercise modalities on novel hepatic ... Results highlight that exercise training, independent of mode of training, is an effective strategy to improve some indices related to hepatic steatosis.

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06993454

NCT06993454 | Acute Exercise and Endogenous Glucose ... The overall aim of this study is to investigate the effects of exercise on the amount of glucose that is made by the liver in people with and without Type 2 ...

3. bmjopensem.bmj.com bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/10/4/e001878

Effect of low-volume exercise on hepatic steatosis in adults ... These findings show that low-volume HIIT with PRT yields improvements in muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness and may have a small effect on hepatic ...

4. diabetesjournals.org diabetesjournals.org/diabetes/article/69/4/517/40608/Exercise-Combats-Hepatic-Steatosis-Potential

Exercise Combats Hepatic Steatosis: Potential Mechanisms ... These data collectively highlight that exercise training in the absence of weight loss can effectively reduce intrahepatic lipids and point to ...

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0024320521011115

Short-term combined training reduces hepatic steatosis ... In a recent study, Franco and colleagues found that six months of combined training was effective in reducing hepatic steatosis in subjects ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2992225/

Exercise and Type 2 Diabetes - PubMed Central - NIH Structured interventions combining PA and modest weight loss have been shown to lower type 2 diabetes risk by up to 58% in high-risk populations. Most benefits ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667036423000018

The importance of exercise for glycemic control in type 2 ... Habitual aerobic exercise helps manage blood glucose. Resistance exercise benefits insulin sensitivity in those with type 2 diabetes.

8. bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-025-21669-9

Acute effects of different “exercise snacking'' modalities on ... Acute effects of different “exercise snacking'' modalities on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM): study protocol ...

9. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8802999/

Exercise/Physical Activity in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes One study reported that all participants with T2D had lower rates of major CVD outcomes (< 1%), with no differences between those who underwent stress testing ...

10. diabetesjournals.org diabetesjournals.org/care/article/39/11/2065/37249/Physical-Activity-Exercise-and-Diabetes-A-Position

Physical Activity/Exercise and Diabetes: A Position Statement ... In low- and moderate-intensity activity undertaken by adults with type 2 diabetes, the risk of exercise-induced adverse events is low.