A preliminary study: Effects of football training on glucose control, body composition, and performance in men with type 2 diabetes

The effects of regular football training on glycemic control, body composition, and peak oxygen uptake ( VO 2 peak) were investigated in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus ( T2DM ). Twenty‐one middle‐aged men (49.8 ± 1.7 years ±  SEM ) with T2DM were divided into a football training group ( FG ; n  = 12) and an inactive control group ( CG ; n  = 9) during a 24‐week intervention period ( IP ). During a 1‐h football training session, the distance covered was 4.7 ± 0.2 km, mean heart rate ( HR ) was 83 ± 2% of HRmax , and blood lactate levels increased ( P  < 0.001) from 2.1 ± 0.3 to 8.2 ± 1.3 mmol/L. In FG , VO 2 peak was 11% higher ( P  < 0.01), and total fat mass and android fat mass were 1.7 kg and 12.8% lower ( P  < 0.001), respectively, after IP . After IP , the reduction in plasma glucose was greater ( P  = 0.02) in FG than the increase in CG , and in FG , GLUT ‐4 tended to be higher ( P  = 0.072) after IP . For glycosylated hemoglobin ( HbA 1), an overall time effect ( P  < 0.01) was detected after 24 weeks. After IP , the number of capillaries around type I fibers was 7% higher ( P  < 0.05) in FG and 5% lower ( P  < 0.05) in CG . Thus, in men with T2DM , regular football training improves VO 2 peak, reduces fat mass, and may positively influence glycemic control.