Actividad física en la prevención y tratamiento de la diabetes

physical activity is essential in the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus (dm). prospective studies in high risk patients have concluded that regular physical activity is associated with a lower risk of progression to dm. besides, when dm has been established, a training program improves glucose control and prevents micro and macrovascular complications. benefits can be observed after a single bout of exercise (acute effect) improving muscular glucose uptake until 48 hours after exercise; or with regular exercise (chronic effect) lowering both fasting and post-prandial glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels. although aerobic exercise has been traditionally prescribed in diabetics, resistance training has shown improve both strength, and insulin-sensitive muscle mass and decrease cardiovascular risk. a combination of aerobic and resistance exercise provide the greatest benefit to glycemic management in dm. this article discusses the acute and/or chronic benefits of aerobic, resistance o combined exercise in the prevention and treatment of dm. in addition, general recommendations on physical activity according to metabolic control and considerations in patients with diabetic specific complications are summarized.