Effect of exercise on TNF-α levels in patients with type 2 diabetes in Bengkulu, Indonesia
Abstract
Along with diet and medication, exercise is now recommended as the first approach for type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients. Previous studies indicate that regular exercise has an anti-inflammatory effect. TNF-α is one of the prominent pro-inflammatory mediators involved in the pathophysiology of T2DM; however, the effect is inconclusive. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of diabetes exercise on the TNF-α level in patients with T2DM. A pre-test and post-test one-group design research was conducted at the Community Health Centre Sentinel Bengkulu, Indonesia, from November to December 2019. Patients with type 2 diabetes received diabetes exercise training for eight weeks (one time per week). Our study involved fifteen T2DM patients: 55.53±3.16 years old; male/female ratio, 2/13; and duration of diabetes was 13.87±2.94 years. Exercise training reduced TNF-α level (from 78.60±14.38 to 61.47±11.56 pg/mL; p<0.0001). Fasting blood glucose decreased after diabetes exercise (190±50.43 vs. 221.53±39.02 mg/dL; p=0.0065). Performing diabetes exercise exerts anti-inflammatory effects in T2DM patients. This observation should encourage patients with T2DM to increase their physical activity levels to prevent diabetes complications.