# The impact of prolonged walking on fasting plasma glucose in type 2 diabetes: A randomised controlled crossover study

## TL;DR

Prolonged walking does not significantly affect fasting glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes, suggesting it does not interfere with glucose monitoring.

## Contribution

This study is the first to investigate the impact of prolonged walking on fasting glucose in type 2 diabetes patients.

## Key findings

- Glucose levels during and after walking were similar to those at rest.
- The glucose difference between walking and resting was not statistically significant at 1 and 2 hours.
- Fasting glucose remains reliable for monitoring glycaemic control even in patients who walk to the clinic.

## Abstract

In many low‐income countries, fasting glucose is the primary measure for monitoring glycaemic control. Many patients in these countries walk long distances to the clinic, but the impact of walking on fasting glucose in type 2 diabetes is unknown. We aimed to determine the impact of walking on fasting glucose in people with type 2 diabetes.

In a randomised crossover trial, the change in glucose from baseline in the fasting state was compared between walking on a treadmill at a predetermined speed of 4.5 km/h for 1 h and not walking (resting) in people with type 2 diabetes.

In all, 45 participants were enrolled and all completed both visits; 21/45 (46.7%) were women, and the median age was 51. Glucose during and after walking was similar to glucose while at rest; the glucose difference (walking minus rest) was −0.15 (95% CI: −0.55, 0.26) and −0.10 (95% CI: −0.50, 0.31) mmol/L at 1 and 2 h, respectively, p > 0.4 for both.

Fasting plasma glucose is not meaningfully affected by prolonged walking in participants with type 2 diabetes; therefore, the reliability of fasting glucose for monitoring glycaemic burden is unlikely to be altered in patients who walk to the clinic.