Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is proposed as a potent strategy to control hypertension in individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease. However, its effect on cardiovascular disease risk in older adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains unclear. Our objective was to compare the effects of low-volume HIIT and current aerobic exercise recommendations for diabetes management on cardiovascular disease risk in older women with T2D. Women with T2D aged 60-75 years were asked to consume a low glycemic index diet and exercise 3 times per week in either 1) HIIT (75 min/week, 7 women) or 2) moderate-intensity continuous aerobic training (MICT; 150 min/week, 7 women). Resting and 24h-ambulatory blood pressure as well as the Framingham Risk Score, an estimation of developping a cardiovascular disease in the upcoming 10 years, were measured prior and after the 12-week intervention. The Framingham Risk Score was reduced in the HIIT group only, which was solely driven by a decreased resting systolic blood pressure. Although neither intervention had significant effect on 24h-ambulatory blood pressure, the post-exercise rise in systolic blood pressure was attenuated for the HIIT group only. These preliminary results suggest that HIIT could be a promising intervention to reduce cardiovascular disease risk in older women with T2D.