The effects of high-intensity interval training on glucose metabolism, inflammatory responses, and functional recovery in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to investigate, through a randomised controlled trial, the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on glucose metabolism, inflammatory responses and neurological recovery in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), and to compare these effects with those of moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), thereby providing new and more effective evidence-based guidance for the exercise rehabilitation of DPN.

METHODS

A total of 93 patients with DPN were randomly assigned to the HIIT, MICT, and control (CON) groups, with an intervention period of 12 weeks. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV), sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) of the common peroneal nerve, Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score (TCSS), and Berg Balance Scale.

RESULTS

Compared with CON, both HIIT and MICT improved HbA1c, FPG, and HOMA-IR levels to some extent, reduced the expression of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP, and promoted the recovery of nerve conduction velocities and clinical function. Compared with MICT, HIIT demonstrated more significant and sustained advantages in terms of HbA1c, FPG, TNF-α, IL-6, and TCSS scores.

CONCLUSION

HIIT and MICT can effectively improve glucose metabolism, reduce chronic inflammatory responses, and promote the recovery of nerve function in patients with DPN; however, HIIT is superior to MICT in terms of the extent of improvement, sustainability, and overall benefits.