Project
The impact of muscle disuse on muscle metabolism in individuals with type 2 diabetes
Individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) increasingly face periods of physical inactivity, often due to hospitalization, diabetes-related complications, and/or conditions such as COVID-19. These periods of bed rest or limb immobilization are often required for recovery from illness or injury. During such periods, individuals without diabetes typically experience muscle mass loss and reduced muscle insulin sensitivity. However, most of the research on the effects of muscle disuse has focused on individuals without diabetes, leaving the response of people with T2D to physical inactivity unclear.
Background
Any reductions in peripheral glucose uptake due to physical inactivity can impact
glycemic control, potentially worsening clinical outcomes, diabetes complications, and quality of life (QoL). Given that individuals with T2D often have low muscle mass and increased insulin resistance compared to their peers of the same age, they may be particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of physical inactivity.
Description
In this project we will determine how rapidly muscles of individuals with T2D change uptake of glucose and amino acids from the diet in response to short-term forearm immobilization, thereby gaining mechanistic insight into the role of muscle contraction and substrate availability in T2D. Additionally, we will explore the effects of whole-body electrical stimulation during bed rest to determine its efficacy in preserving muscle mass and maintaining insulin sensitivity.