Role of exercise training on cardiovascular disease in persons who have type 2 diabetes and hypertension

Type 2 diabetes and hypertension are associated with abnormalities in several parameters of central and peripheral cardiovascular structure and function and increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. There is increasing evidence that the benefits of exercise training go beyond the recognized benefits of glycemic control and blood pressure reduction because of improvement in several mechanisms that are involved in the cardiovascular consequences of diabetes and hypertension. The mechanisms that are improved include endothelial vasodilator function, left ventricular diastolic function, arterial stiffness, and systematic inflammation. Exercise training also reduces total and abdominal fat, which seem to mediate improvements in insulin sensitivity and blood pressure and may improve several aspects of cardiovascular health.