Relationship between pedometer-registered activity, aerobic capacity and self-reported activity and fitness in patients with type 2 diabetes

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between pedometer-registered activity, aerobic capacity (VO2max) and self-reported activity and fitness in patients with type 2 diabetes before and after a 12-week exercise programme. Methods: Twenty-nine men with type 2 diabetes (age = 57.4 (7.8) years, BMI = 31.7 (2.8) kg/m(2)) underwent exercise testing, registered pedometer activity and reported their physical fitness and activity in a questionnaire. Participants were randomly allocated to an exercise (EX) group (n = 15) or a control (CO) group (n = 14). Participants in EX group were offered supervised exercise twice a week for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, participants again underwent exercise testing, fasting blood tests and registration of pedometer activity. Results: At baseline, pedometer activity correlated with VO2max (r = 0.43, p = 0.02) and with perceived physical fitness (r = 0.48, p = 0.02). After, but not before, intervention, pedometer activity and VO2max additionally correlated with perceived everyday activity (r = 0.62, p < 0.01 and r = 0.49, p = 0.03, respectively). Both EX and CO groups tended to increase pedometer activity. In EX group, weight decreased by 2.7% (p = 0.01), VO2max increased 10.6% (p = 0.03) and HbA1c decreased by 5.2% from baseline (p = 0.02). In EX group, an increase in pedometer activity correlated with a fall in HbA1c (r = 0.84, p < 0.01) and in diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.77, p = 0.025). Conclusions: Pedometer activity correlates with VO2max in type-2 diabetic patients. Our exercise programme was well tolerated; it produced favourable effects on body weight, aerobic capacity and metabolic control. The use of pedometer may lead to more realistic assessment of perceived everyday physical activity.