Diabetes Mellitus, Physical Exercise and Heart Rate Variability

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has grown in recent decades.Risk factors for developing DM have been well established in clinical studies. Among these, sedentary lifestyles, aging and obesity stand out.DM, defined by increased plasma glucose concentration, is commonly accompanied by cardiovascular alterations such as hypertension, coronary disease, heart failure, and cardiac autonomic neuropathy.As cardiovascular diseases are currently the main causes of death and morbidity, studies aimed at better understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms inherent in DM are of great importance.

Cardiac autonomic neuropathy is characterized by changes in fibers that innervate the heart and blood vessels. ^, In this condition, changes in nerve function lead to reduced heart rate variability and altered baroreflex sensitivity.Physical exercise is considered an important non-pharmacological therapy to help prevent and control DM and its clinical consequences.Researchers have recently observed that exercise can also prevent and treat cardiac autonomic neuropathy.

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