Type 2 diabetes and physical activity: can you exercise your symptoms away?

An interview with Greg Wells PhD by Jenny Hall May 10, 2012. Read the article on the University of Toronto Research and Innovation site here.

Part 2 of a 4-part series

Welcome to Part 3 of our series on type 2 diabetes. If you’re just joining us, check out our Q&A with Bernard Zinman on the scope of the problem and our Q&A Thomas Wolever on diabetes and diet.

Today we talk to Greg Wells about the relationship between type 2 diabetes and exercise. A professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education and an associate scientist in physiology and exercise medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children, Wells is at the forefront of the new field of exercise medicine, which investigates the use of physical activity to treat and prevent chronic disease.

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Science of the Run on Discovery Channel

Here is the Science of the Run segment that aired on Discovery Channel's Daily Planet show:

http://watch.discoverychannel.ca/daily-planet/april-2012/daily-planet---april-17-2012/#clip660691

The segment shows some of the science we did during the Andes Run expedition in Chile and Argentina in February of 2012. My blog posts from the expedition can be found on the Science of the Run page.

Podcast: The Role of Exercise and Physical Activity in Optimizing Outcomes Among Patients with CF

After participating in this activity the participant will demonstrate the ability to:

	Describe exercise interventions suitable for prepubescent children with cystic fibrosis,
	Differentiate between appropriate exercise interventions for adolescent female and male patients with CF,
	Discuss the characteristics of exercise and physical activity interventions for adult patients with CF.

This audio activity has been developed for clinicians caring for patients with issues related to cystic fibrosis. You can also read the companion newsletter. In this edition Dr. Wells will provide an age-appropriate review of exercises that are beneficial in the treatment of cystic fibrosis.

The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CME activity.

If you want to now listen to the eCysticFibrosis Review podcast, just click on the button above. This will open your Internet browser to play the podcast by streaming the media via the web. Please note: This podcast file is large so please be patient while the content downloads. Save the podcast to your computer. Once saved you can manage and play the file like any song or music using your music software (iTunes, Windows Media, Real Player, etc.). You can also transfer the podcast file to your iPod, MP3 player and listen while on-the-go. Like any RSS subscription, when you subscribe to this Review you will automatically receive each new edition, downloaded to your hard drive as soon as it becomes available. You may manage and play the downloaded podcast file like any song or audio file by using your music software (iTunes, Windows Media, Real Player, etc.). You can also transfer the podcast file to your iPod, MP3 player to listen while on-the-go.

What it takes to get to the Games.

No athlete qualifies for the Olympic Games based on talent alone.  Join U of T’s Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education to hear firsthand accounts of the mental focus and physical toil required to earn a spot on the world stage at, “The Olympic Athlete: What it takes to get to the Games.”

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My article on Golf Canada.ca - Golf Fitness for Kids

Golf is a sport, golfers are athletes. Be sure your child warms up before teeing-it-up.

Playing golf is a complex athletic challenge. It involves incredible coordination of arms, legs and trunk muscles, plus the ability to control your club, the ball and your body at the same time.

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The Role of Exercise and Physical Activity in Optimizing Outcomes Among Patients With Cystic Fibrosis

Check out my Johns Hopkins newsletter article on using exercise to optimize outcome in patients with cystic fibrosis:

Despite advances in clinical care, life expectancy in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) remains shortened. It has been well documented that exercise capacity in this population is limited by impaired lung function, peripheral skeletal muscle function, and nutritional status, as well as the inability of the cardiorespiratory system to meet the metabolic demands associated with exercise. Interestingly, the physiologic consequences observed in patients with CF are similar to the effects of deconditioning, including poor cardiovascular function, reduced muscle mass, and impaired strength and power. Further, children with CF may be more physically inactive because of the burden of their chronic disease and thus may be at risk for compounding the combined effects of chronic disease and physical inactivity. Exercise and physical activity are key factors in the management of patients with CF, as such markers of physical fitness as aerobic capacity are related to pulmonary function and may be associated with mortality.

In this issue, we review the pathophysiology of exercise intolerance in patients with CF, and discuss new research on how clinicians can incorporate physical activity into the treatment plan for their patients with CF, with the expectation that exercise can improve outcomes in this population.

Read the full artilce here.