Frequency of Interruptions to Sitting Time: Benefits for Postprandial Metabolism in Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE To determine whether interrupting sitting with brief bouts of simple resistance activities (SRAs) at different frequencies improves postprandial glucose, insulin, and triglycerides in adults with medication-controlled type 2 diabetes (T2D). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Participants (n = 23, 10 of whom were female, with mean +/- SD age 62 +/- 8 years and BMI 32.7 +/- 3.5 kg center dot m(-2)) completed a three-armed randomized crossover trial (6- to 14-day washout): sitting uninterrupted for 7 h (SIT), sitting with 3-min SRAs (half squats, calf raises, gluteal contractions, and knee raises) every 30 min (SRA3), and sitting with 6-min SRAs every 60 min (SRA6). Net incremental areas under the curve (iAUC(net)) for glucose, insulin, and triglycerides were compared between conditions. RESULTS Glucose and insulin 7-h iAUC(net) were attenuated significantly during SRA6 (glucose 17.0 mmol center dot h center dot L-1, 95% CI 12.5, 21.4; insulin 1,229 pmol center dot h center dot L-1, 95% CI 982, 1,538) in comparison with SIT (glucose 21.4 mmol center dot h center dot L-1, 95% CI 16.9, 25.8; insulin 1,411 pmol center dot h center dot L-1, 95% CI 1,128, 1,767; P < 0.05) and in comparison with SRA3 (for glucose only) (22.1 mmol center dot h center dot L-1, 95% CI 17.7, 26.6; P = 0.01) No significant differences in glucose or insulin iAUC(net) were observed in comparison of SRA3 and SIT. There was no statistically significant effect of condition on triglyceride iAUC(net). CONCLUSIONS In adults with medication-controlled T2D, interrupting prolonged sitting with 6-min SRAs every 60 min reduced postprandial glucose and insulin responses. Other frequencies of interruptions and potential longer-term benefits require examination to clarify clinical relevance.

Automated summary

Interrupting prolonged sitting with 6-minute bouts of simple resistance activities every 60 minutes significantly reduced postprandial glucose and insulin responses in adults with medication-controlled type 2 diabetes. Other frequencies of interruptions and potential longer-term benefits require further examination for clinical relevance.