Abstract
Therapeutic exercise is a beneficial treatment for diabetes mellitus that ameliorates insulin sensitivity and increases glucose uptake into skeletal muscle. In this study, we investigated whether therapeutic exercise affects blood biochemical parameters and muscular mRNA expression in diabetic dogs. No significant difference was observed between the fasting blood glucose concentrations before and after exercise. However, the levels of glycated albumin（GA）and non-esterified fatty acids were significantly decreased after exercise. No significant differences were found between before and after exercise in the mRNA expression of insulin signaling and glucose metabolism genes including insulin receptor substrate （IRS）-1, IRS-2, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, Akt kinase 2, glucose transporter 4, AMP-activated protein kinase, uncoupling protein 3, and acetyl-CoA carboxylase. In summary, therapeutic exercise decreased GA levels and thus ameliorated glycemic control in diabetic dogs.
