The discovery of the role of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and their involvement in the cardiovascular complications of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) would quickly have a significant impact on the millions of Americans who have T2DM. This project is designed to 1) determine the mechanisms underlying EPC dysfunction in older, sedentary adults with T2DM compared those with normal glucose metabolism and impaired glucose metabolism, and 2) determine if aerobic exercise training is an efficacious therapy for EPC dysfunction in T2DM, and whether improvement in EPC number and function translates to improved endothelial function, increased capillarization, and improved glucose metabolism in T2DM.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
70
6 months of aerobic exercise training, 3 days per week
Baltimore VA Medical Center
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Endothelial progenitor cell number
Time frame: Baseline
Endothelial progenitor cell number
Time frame: 6-month
Skeletal muscle capillarization
Time frame: Baseline
Skeletal muscle capillarization
Time frame: 6-month
Cardiorespiratory Fitness
Time frame: Baseline
Cardiorespiratory Fitness
Time frame: 6-month
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