EFFECT OF DIABETES ON EXERCISE PERFORMANCE AND ROUTINE WORKOUTS IN ADULTS

Abstract

Background: Diabetes Mellitus is a long-lasting metabolic disease that impacts various health-related areas such as physical fitness and exercise performance. Exercise is a key factor in the management of diabetes but most people are unable to perform exercises regularly as their blood glucose levels vary and they experience other complications. Objectives: The research objective that guided this study was to discuss the effects of Diabetes Mellitus on exercise performance and normal physical activity among the adults with emphasis on glycemic control, exercise behavior and barriers to physical activity.

Methods: A cross sectional research design was employed in a quantitative study. A structured questionnaire was used to gather information on 200 adults with Diabetes Mellitus. The research evaluated demographic data, glycemic control, frequency of exercise, physical performance and exercise barriers. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and cross tabulation were used to analyze the data.

Findings: The results showed that 45 percent of the respondents did occasional exercises, with 30 percent of the respondents doing regular exercises. In terms of glycemic control, 40% of the participants were well-controlled in terms of their blood glucose level, 35% were moderate, and 25% were poor. Glycemic control was found to have a significant positive relationship with exercise performance (r = 0.62, p < 0.01) and the better glycemic control, the higher the physical activity levels and endurance. The greatest obstacles to regular exercise were fatigue (42.5), and fear of hypoglycemia (30%).

Conclusions: The research concludes that Diabetes Mellitus is a big factor to exercise performance and regular exercise among adults. The cases of poor glycemic control are related to the lack of exercise capacity, whereas better glycemic control increases physical performance and consistency of the physical activity. It is important to tackle physiological and psychological barriers in order to enhance exercise uptake and general management of diabetes.