Eight Weeks of Concurrent Exercise Training Improves Cardiometabolic Health and Continuous Glucose Monitor Glycemic Control Indices among Healthy Sedentary Adults

Authors

Adrian A. Ordaz, University of Texas at El PasoFollow
Joshua LabadahFollow
Richard Vazquez, The University of Texas at El PasoFollow
Jehu ApafloFollow
Seyram Y. Azagloh, The University of Texas at El PasoFollow
Sudip Bajpeyi, University of Texas at El PasoFollow

Abstract

It is well established that exercise improves cardiometabolic health. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems are mostly used among individuals with diabetes. However, the use of CGM to measure the effect of concurrent aerobic and resistance training on glycemic variability indices has not been extensively studied. PURPOSE: To determine the effect of 8-week concurrent exercise training on cardiometabolic health and the utility of CGM in assessing exercise-induced improvement in glycemic control among healthy sedentary adults. METHODS: Twenty (9 males; 11 females) adults (age 28.5±5.4 years; body mass index (BMI) 26.5±5.1 kg/m2; fasting blood glucose (FBG) (93.0±17.6 mg/dL) participated in this study. The exercise training consisted of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise at 65-75% VO2max on a treadmill, followed by 3 upper and 3 lower body resistance exercises at 60-75% one repetition max, 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Cardiometabolic health assessments included blood pressure (BP), fasting glucose and insulin, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), CGM metrics, and body composition before and after the intervention. The CGM system was attached for 10 days in the first and last weeks of the intervention. Data was analyzed by a paired t-test at 0.05 alpha. RESULTS: Eight weeks of concurrent exercise intervention improved 24-hr mean glucose (120.9±11.6 to 115.6±8.7 mg/dL; p0.05) did not change. Fasting insulin (11.4±5.7 to 9.1±5.2 uIU/mL, p0.05) did not change. Systolic BP (105.10±12.8 to 100.3±11.4 mmHg, p0.05) did not change. CONCLUSION: Eight weeks of concurrent exercise training improves cardiometabolic health in sedentary adults, with CGM identifying clinically relevant improvements in glycemic control that are not reflected by fasting glucose or BMI. This supports CGM as a sensitive translational marker of early metabolic adaptation to exercise.

Recommended Citation

Ordaz, Adrian A.; Labadah, Joshua; Vazquez, Richard; Apaflo, Jehu; Azagloh, Seyram Y.; and Bajpeyi, Sudip (2026) "Eight Weeks of Concurrent Exercise Training Improves Cardiometabolic Health and Continuous Glucose Monitor Glycemic Control Indices among Healthy Sedentary Adults," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2: Iss. 18, Article 152.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss18/152