Background and aims: Aging and sedentary lifestyle are the risk factors for type II diabetes. The aim of the present study was the effects of twelve weeks of swimming on glycemic control and plasma apelin levels in older women with type II diabetes.
Methods: In a semi-experimental study, 30 elderly women with type 2 diabetes were selected through purposeful sampling and randomly divided into two groups of swimming training and control. Swimming training were performed for 12 weeks, three sessions per week and each session with 40-60% heart rate reserve. Fasting blood samples were taken before and after the study period. For statistical analysis of parametric tests and t-test and SPSS version 22 was used and the significance level of 05/0 ≥ P. For statistical analysis were used T-dependent and independent parametric tests and SPSS software version 22 and P ≤ 0.05, was used for the significant level.
Results: After period intervention, there was founded a significant decrease in insulin resistance (P <0.001), HbA1c (P <0.001) and plasma apelin (P <0.05) in swimming group compared to control group.
Conclusion: Overall, the findings of this study showed that swimming training improve insulin sensitivity and decrease applein levels in elderly women with type 2 diabetes.