Diabetes Research Trial - Office of Research

Have you been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes?

Did you know that there is a strong relationship between exercise and controlling your blood sugar?

When you are too inactive, your body depends almost entirely on the hormone insulin to lower blood sugar. This constant dependence on insulin builds up a tolerance that eventually results in the need for more insulin to perform the same function. Long term, this can lead to insulin resistance and elevated blood sugar, and is a primary cause of Type 2 Diabetes. Muscle contraction, especially through exercise, is the only other mechanism your body has that reduces blood sugar and can be an effective way to help treat diabetes.

Though exercise is a great tool for combating diabetes, there are common barriers for those who wish to participate. Our exercise program developed at Kennesaw State University addresses these barriers:

1. Lack of Time:
Lack of time is one of the most commonly reported barriers to exercise. The commonly prescribed exercise program for a recently diagnosed type 2 diabetic is 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic exercise. Our 16-week program requires a maximum of 40 minutes per week.

2. Lack of Knowledge:
When exercise is prescribed, it often does not come with instructions. Our study will provide you with a 16-week program, the necessary instruction for proper movement, and researchers will oversee your first 6 workouts.

3. Expensive Gym Membership:
Gym memberships can be costly and require contracts, and home gyms can be very expensive on the front end. This study will provide you with a TRX suspension training band necessary equipment to complete the 16-week study. In addition, this program can be completed in the comfort of your own home.

4. Too Much, Too Soon:
A common mistake made when engaging in new exercise routines is doing too much too soon, which can lead to burnout or overuse injury. Our novel program in this study allows for a more incremental approach that will support both mental and physical adaptation to the exercise routine.

The current findings of this study have shown:

Decrease in A1c of 1.75% +/-1.9%.
Decrease in systolic blood pressure of 15 +/- 21 mm/hg.
Increase in muscle mass of 1.7 +/- 4.2 lbs.

informed consent form physicians' clearance form

What to Expect at the KSU Exercise Physiology Lab

Visit 1

Cardiovascular markers: resting heart rate and blood pressure, and your heart rate variability, a marker of your involuntary nervous system activity, for a 10-minute period in a quiet, dimly lit room.

participant on exam bench connected to monitor

Your resting glucose regulation and lipid profile will be taken through finger sticks in a fasted condition. A two-hour glucose tolerance test will be taken along with lipid profile.

Consume 75mg Glucose drink within 2 minutes.

30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours

Visit 2

Within two weeks of this visit, you will be asked to arrive at the Exercise Physiology Lab in order obtain information regarding your body composition.

Intervention 1 (bodyweight circuit), Intervention 2 (aerobic exercise)

Visits 1 and 2 will be repeated at the end of the 16 weeks

Participants Will Receive

A Fitbit watch, $300 gift card and TRX suspension system.

Where We're Located

Exercise Physiology Lab
520 Parliament Garden Way NW,
Kennesaw, GA 30144

Dr. Brian Kliszczewicz

Dr. Kliszczewicz is a tenured professor in the department of Exercise Science and Sport Management at Kennesaw State University.

His current line of research is cardiovascular and metabolic stress with a sub-emphasis on body composition variables as they relate to acute and long-term exercise.

The evaluation of cardiovascular stress (via Heart Rate Variability) and metabolic stress (via Glucose, Insulin, Catecholamines...) following acute bouts of exercise provides important insight to exercise appropriateness and effectiveness. The evaluation of these markers over long-term exercise interventions allows for the assessment of exercise effectiveness and adaptation. The evaluation of body composition beyond simple measure of body fat, provides much needed insight into variables that lead to metabolic and cardiovascular responses to acute and chronic exercise.

Initial assessments performed in our lab evaluated high-intensity exercise in relatively healthy and active individuals.

Findings of these studies have led to the current federally funded gran, examining exercise in patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Education:
M.S., University of Florida 2010
PhD., Auburn University 2013

Email: Bkliszcz@kennesaw.edu

Phone: 315-415-6609