EXPLODE study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
EXercise to Prevent frailty and Loss Of independence in insulin treated older people with DiabetEs: The EXPLODE Trial
IRAS ID
269661
Contact name
Daniel West
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN13193281
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NUTH R&D, 9144
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
There are 3.7m people in the UK with diagnosed diabetes (both Type 1 and Type 2), with approximately 80% treated with insulin or requiring insulin treatment at some stage of the disease. While diabetes complications such as cardiovascular disease are well known, often unappreciated complications are the accelerated rate of sarcopenia, increased frailty, and loss of independence that can come from years of exposure to hyperglycaemia and inflammation.
Leading a physically active life can be problematic for those with insulin-treated diabetes due to blood glucose control disruption. However, resistance (weight) training carries less risk of a loss of blood glucose control, compared to other forms of exercise. Moreover, in other groups of people with frailty, resistance training has been shown effective in improving physical function. With the increasing prevalence of diabetes, planning for management of this patient group in later life is vital.
The aim of this study is to explore the feasibility of conducting a pilot randomised controlled trial, by testing the use of resistance exercise to improve physical function in older patients with insulin treated diabetes, who are mildly frail.
Thirty patients with diabetes and thirty without (age and frailty matched) will be recruited. All will complete blood and physical testing. Fifteen of each group will then be randomised to a four-week supervised resistance training programme, designed to increase muscle mass/strength. All participants will then repeat the physical testing. A subset will be interviewed before and after the training programme to understand their perceptions of training, and living with diabetes (where relevant) as they have aged.
At the end of this study, we will have a better understanding of the impact of resistance training on patients with diabetes, both physically and psycho-socially. Findings will be used to inform a future trial should the training prove acceptable and feasible.REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/NE/0178
Date of REC Opinion
14 Aug 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion