BACKGROUND AND AIMS
By the help of physical training insulin sensitivity and the adjustment of metabolism with diabetics can be improved. By means of other studies it was additionally shown that physical training will finally lead to a reduction of immunity parameters like IL-6. It was the aim of this study to find out whether a six week treatment with a high frequent muscle stimulation (EMS) with patients suffering with type 2 diabetics (T2D) will additionally improve metabolic and immunological parameters.
METHODOLOGY
During this 12-week study 16 patients with T2D and oral antidiabetical medication were included. After a two week run-in phase without treatment, patients were given an EMS-device (HiToP® 91, gbo Medizintechnik AG, Rimbach/Germany) for a daily treatment within the area of thigh and shank for the following 6 weeks. In the beginning as well as in the end of the treatment phase, blood was taken from all probands and examined for metabolical and immunological parameters (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-18, Adiponektin) by means of highly intensive ELISA.
RESULTS
Improvement of the Adjustment of the Metabolism
During the treatment phase, a significant improvement of weight, BMI and the HbA1c value in comparison to run-in phase was noticed whereas the fasting blood sugar level, c-peptid level and the circumference of the waist remained largely unchanged.
Influence of an EMS-treatment on systemic immune parameters
With 12 of the 16 patients (75%) the HbA1c decreased during the treatment phase. Within this group a tendency of changes in the systemic immune parameters IL-6 and IL-18 was observed
CONCLUSION
A short term treatment with a high frequent external muscle stimulation (EMS) has a positive influence on body weight and can improve the adjustment of diabetes. Possibly, also subclinical inflammation with patients with T2D is beneficial influenced. These results point out that EMS is an additional option for the treatment of type 2 diabetics.
The present summary is based on the findings reported in the following original publication:
Rose, B., Lankisch, M., Herder, C., Röhrig, K., Labrenz, S., Haensler, J.,
Heinemann, L., & Martin, S.
External muscle stimulation to influence adjustment of diabetes:
a new therapy option for type 2 diabetics.
Institute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center &
Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf; Profil Dept. of Research of the Metabolism, Neuss.