Exercise-induced changes in the cardiovascular system may help to improve the overall condition of people with both Type II diabetes and hypertension, according to a review article in the October 2nd issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

According to information cited in the article, benefits of exercise --- including improved cardiovascular function, reduction in body fat, and an increase in muscle mass --- are also changes that may improve insulin sensitivity and blood pressure. Because of the exercise-related benefits, researchers have suggested that exercise might have especially positive effects on patients with both Type II diabetes and hypertension.

Kerry J. Stewart, Ed.D., performed a search of the medical literature published from January 1985 to June 2002 to gather information on exercise, Type II diabetes, and hypertension. The analysis evaluated 235 citations from peer-reviewed journals, professional society guidelines, and books. Patient materials were developed from the content of the articles.

Recommendations in the article cover types of useful exercise, as well as guidelines on frequency and nature of workouts. Warm-up and cool-down periods that include stretching and last 5 to 10 minutes were recommended for each exercise workout.

Aerobic activities include walking, cycling, and swimming, and they should be done at 55 percent to 79 percent of maximum heart rate (or 50 percent to 60 percent of maximum for patients with low initial fitness levels) for 30 to 45 minutes. Aerobic exercise should be done three or four times weekly, more frequently if weight reduction is a goal.

Resistance training, including weight lifting, should be done at a pace of 20 minutes per set of exercises for a total of 8 to 10 exercises. Resistance exercise should be done twice a week.

"This review of the available data suggests plausible mechanisms by which exercise training improves the cardiovascular consequences of Type II diabetes and hypertension, mechanisms that go beyond the established benefits of exercise on glycemic control and blood pressure reduction," concludes Dr. Stewart.