Short-Term Benefits of an Exercise Prescription (ExerciseRx) with the Stelo Glucose Biosensor on Glycemia for Men and Women with Noninsulin-Treated Type 2 Diabetes

This study examined the short-term effects of a structured exercise prescription (ExerciseRx), combining afternoon interval exercise and postmeal walking, on meal-related glycemia using the Stelo glucose biosensor (GB; Dexcom) that displays real-time glucose data. Thirteen adults with type 2 diabetes, not on insulin, completed two successive ∼10-day sensor wear periods (blinded and unblinded to GB). Each wear period included a structured 4-h in-clinic visit under sedentary or ExerciseRx conditions. During a 10-day unblinded wear period, participants had higher time-in-range (74% ± 21% vs. 57% ± 29%, P < 0.001) and more total daily steps than the blinded period. During in-clinic visits, regardless of blinding, ExerciseRx lowered the 4-h mean (150 ± 31 vs. 168 ± 45 mg/dL, P < 0.01) and postmeal peak (213 ± 47 vs. 241 ± 63 mg/dL, P = 0.01) glucose compared with being sedentary. These findings support the value of structured ExerciseRx with a real-time GB to improve lifestyle habits in adults with type 2 diabetes not on insulin.