CIRCULATORY AND TEMPERATURE REGULATORY RESPONSES TO EXERCISE IN A WARM ENVIRONMENT IN INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETICS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 54  (2) , 101-109
Abstract
Because diabetics are prone to the development of neuropathy and microvascular disease, abnormalities of cardiovascular reactivity and capillary permeability in response to acute exercise and/or an increase in environmental temperature might presage the development of clinically overt complications. Insulin-dependent diabetics without evidence of microangiopathy or neuropathy and controls matched for the same level of physical fitness performed cycle ergometer exercise for 20 min at 65% .ovrhdot.VO2 max in a temperature maintained at 35.degree. C. The rise in heart rate (82-85 beats min-1), the fall in plasma volume (11-13%) and the increase in total serum proteins (13-16%) induced by exercise were the same in the 2 groups. Comparable increments in skin blood flow (2- to 3-fold) and in core and skin temperatures were observed. The relationship between increases in body core temperature and increases in skin blood flow and the vasodilatory threshold (37.degree. C) were also the same in the diabetics and controls.