The effects of type 2 diabetes on body heat storage during and following exercise

Abstract

Background: Elevated mortality rates and impaired local heat loss mechanisms have been found in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) during heat stress. However, little is known about the effects of T2DM on whole body heat loss. Objective: To compare body heat content (H b) between T2DM and a matched control group (CON) during and after exercise in the heat. Methods: Fourteen participants (7 T2DM; 7 CON) cycled in a calorimeter for 1 hour, and recovered for 1 hour on two separate occasions (24 and 30°C). Results: The T2DM group had similar sweating responses (p>0.09) but reduced maximum skin blood flow (SkBF) vs. CON, (p=0.045, 24°C; p=0.049, 30°C). The change in Hb was not different between groups during exercise or recovery (p>0.09). Conclusion: These results suggest that impaired sweating and SkBF in T2DM may be limited to certain areas of the body and do not interfere with whole body heat loss.