Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Most people living with type 2 diabetes do not achieve enough physical activity and miss benefiting from the powerful health benefits of exercise. "Exercise snacks" are short bursts of exercise lasting 1 minute or less, which can be done sporadically throughout the day. These snacks can be easily performed anywhere using stair-climbing or simple body weight exercises. Incorporating exercise snacks into the daily routine could help to break up sedentary time, regulate blood sugar, and improve blood pressure and fitness levels. This research program aims to explore the positive effects of exercise snacks in individuals living with type 2 diabetes. Through a combination of lab-based studies and a real-world clinical trial that will deliver an exercise snacks intervention via a Smartphone "app", we will test if exercise snacks can lower blood sugar and improve cardiovascular health in people with type 2 diabetes and determine if they can stick to exercise snacks on their own in the real-world. In order to maximize the reach and impact of our research, we will also develop infographics and videos to help teach individuals with T2D how to incorporate exercise snacks into their day. This research aims to empower people living with type 2 diabetes to improve their health, one exercise snack at a time!