Electrical Myostimulation (EMS) Improves Glucose Metabolism and Oxygen Uptake in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients--Results from the EMS Study.

AIMS: In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) exercise training is recommended to improve glycemic control. Electrical myostimulation (EMS) of skeletal muscles is a new method to increase exercise capacity in patients with chronic heart failure. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of EMS in T2DM on glucose metabolism, body composition, and exercise performance using a newly designed stimulation suit that involves trunk, leg, and arm muscles.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifteen individuals (nine males; 61.7±14.8 years old) were trained for 10 weeks twice weekly for 20 min with EMS. Effects on glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)), oxygen consumption, and body composition were evaluated.

RESULTS: There was a significant increase of oxygen uptake at the aerobic threshold from 12.3±0.8 to 13.3±0.7 mL/kg/min (P=0.003) and of maximal work capacity from 96.9±6.4 to 101.4±7.9 W (P=0.046), with a concomitant trend for improved maximal oxygen uptake (from 14.5±0.9 to 14.7±0.9 mL/kg/min [P=0.059]). Fasting blood glucose level decreased from 164.0±12.5 to 133.4±9.9 mg/dL (P=0.001), and HbA(1c) level decreased from 7.7±0.3% to 7.2±0.3% (P=0.041), whereas mean total weight (from 101.5±4.0 to 103.1±4.3 kg) and proportion of body fat (from 38.8±3.2% to 40.3±3.4%) remained statistically unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS: EMS can improve glucose metabolism and functional performance in T2DM patients. These data suggest that EMS might emerge as a novel additional therapeutic mode of exercise training and might help patients to overcome their sedentary lifestyle.