Effect of Soleus Push-ups Exercise on Blood Glucose Level and Activities of Daily Living among Patients with Type II Diabetes

Background: Diabetes mellitus has become a major chronic health problem worldwide resulting from defect in insulin action, secretion or both. It leads to complications that may be disabling or even life-threatening, these complications are divided into micro and macro vascular complications. Purpose of the study: To examine the effect of soleus push-ups exercise on blood glucose level and activities of daily living among patients with type II diabetes mellitus. Design: A quasi-experimental research design was utilized. Setting: The study was conducted at diabetes outpatient clinic and internal medicine department of Menoufia University Hospital. Sampling: A consecutive sample of 100 adult patients were selected and divided alternatively into two equal groups: 50 patients for each group (study - control). Instruments: Four instruments were used for data collection: Structured interview questionnaire, barthel index of activities of daily living (ADL), biochemical and physiological data and soleus muscle pushups observational checklist. Results: It is revealed that 84% of study group are independent in performing activities of daily living, while 72% of control group are moderately dependent in performing activities of daily living pre and after 3 months post intervention. There were highly statistically significant differences for study and control according to their biochemical and physiological data pre and after 3 months post intervention tests. There were highly statistically significant differences between study group in pre and posttests as regards to performance of soleus muscle pushups exercise. Conclusions: Soleus push-ups exercise were effective in improving blood glucose level and activities of daily living among patients with type II Diabetes Mellitus. Recommendations: Supervised health education should be provided for type II diabetic patients about soleus muscle pushups exercise to control blood glucose level. A colored illustrative Arabic brochure which contains information about the disease, its complications and soleus muscle pushups exercise technique should be available and distributed between patients with type II diabetes.