Diabetes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Diabetes - Essay Example e discovered numerous advantages for the diabetes patient in maintaining a stable exercise routine as well as the most beneficial degree of physical involvement and frequency of physical activity, but each of these realizations could have an impact on best practices for physical therapists in working with diabetic patients. In â€Å"Metallothionein-Mediated Antioxidant Defense System and Its Response to Exercise Training Are Impaired in Human Type 2 Diabetes† (Scheede-Bergdahl 2005), the authors discuss the importance of metallothioneins I and II (MT 1) as part of the antioxidant defense system and its relationship to exercise in the diabetic patient. Previous studies regarding these antioxidants have indicated that exercise has only beneficial effects on the production of MT 1, but the research team noticed that none of the studies had actually been conducted on people with Type 2 Diabetes. Further evidence had suggested the possibility that these important chemicals are reduced with exercise in persons with Type II Diabetes. During the study, it was confirmed that levels of MT 1 are increased in the skeletal muscle tissue and plasma of healthy individuals who have participated in a regular exercise program. Participants who had Type 2 Diabetes showed no corresponding increases thou gh. While the study was careful to note that there were no increases or decreases in MT 1 levels in the skeletal musculature in these patients, it was also noted that levels were decreased somewhat in the plasma levels. Decreased MT 1 can lead to oxidative stress, which â€Å"contributes to the development and acceleration of related conditions such as nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy and macro- and microvascular damage† (Scheede-Bergdahl 2005). At the same time, tissue samples taken from patients with Type 2 Diabetes indicated increased oxidative stress from the control group with tissue appearing more susceptible to damage. As further research is conducted as to