The Urgent Need for Recommending Physical Activity for the Management of Diabetes During and Beyond COVID-19 Outbreak

Author(s)

Marcal, Isabela Roque ^[1] ; Fernandes, Bianca ^[1] ; Viana, Ariane Aparecida ^[1] ; Ciolac, Emmanuel Gomes ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ, Exercise & Chron Dis Res Lab ECDR, Dept Phys Educ, Sch Sci, Campus Bauru UNESP, Bauru, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY; v. 11, OCT 28 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Diabetes is the second most prevalent non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and is highly associated with increased incidence of disease severity and mortality. Individuals with diabetes and poor glycemic control have an even worse prognosis. Despite of the need/effectiveness of social distancing measures (i.e.: home confinement, quarantine and/or lockdown) during COVID-19 outbreak, preliminary findings showed an increase in negative behaviors during COVID-19 home confinement (i.e.: similar to 33.5% reduction in physical activity, similar to 28.6% (similar to 3.10h) increase in sedentary behavior (i.e.: daily sitting, reclining and lying down time), and more unhealthy food consumption and meal pattern), which may have important clinical implications. For example, we estimated that this reduction in physical activity can increase the cases of type 2 diabetes (from similar to 7.2% to similar to 9.6%; similar to 11.1 million cases per year) and all-cause mortality (from similar to 9.4% to similar to 12.5%; similar to 1.7 million deaths per year) worldwide. Few weeks of reduction in physical activity levels result in deleterious effects on several cardiometabolic (i.e.: glycemic control, body composition, inflammatory cytokines, blood pressure, vascular function horizontal ellipsis ) and functional parameters (i.e.: cardiorespiratory/muscle fitness, balance, agility horizontal ellipsis ). In contrast, physical activity and exercise are important tools for preventing and treating diabetes and others NCDs. Home-based exercise programs are useful, safe and effective for the management of diabetes, and could be widely used during COVID-19 outbreak. In this context, there is an urgent need for recommending physical activity/exercise, during and beyond COVID-19 outbreak, for improving the management of diabetes, as well as to prevent the increase in global burden of COVID-19, diabetes and others NCDs. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/09695-5 - Hemodynamic response to heated water-based exercise in older individuals with hypertension: effect of high-intensity interval versus moderate-intensity continuous exercise
• Grantee: Isabela Roque Marcal
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 19/19596-7 - Hemodynamic and autonomic effect of exercise in blood pressure and peripheral artery disease
• Grantee: Isabela Roque Marcal
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree