BENEFICIAL EFFECT OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE AND DIET ON METABOLIC CONTROL IN DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both. The chronic hyperglycemia of diabetes is associated with long-term damage, dysfunction and failure of various organs, especially the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels. The prevalence of diabetes is higher in developed countries, but most of the numerical increase will occur in developing countries. By 2025, more than 75% of people with diabetes will reside in developing countries. Prevalence is particularly high in countries such as India, China and the United States. In developed countries, the majority of people with diabetes are aged 65 or over, while in developing countries, the majority are aged 45-64. The research was carried out from October 2021 to January 2024, in the online databases Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Social and Health Sciences (LILACS), and PubMed. The descriptors in health sciences (DeCS) associated with the Boolean operator AND were used, as follows: "Diabetes Mellitus AND Physical Activity", "Diabetes Mellitus AND Food". The research found that physical activity is beneficial for both types of diabetes, but is particularly effective in the metabolic control of type 2 diabetes.