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Int J Neurosci. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2018 January 01.
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Published in final edited form as:

Int J Neurosci. 2017 January ; 127(1): 80–85. doi:10.3109/00207454.2016.1144056.

Aerobic Exercise Improves Measures of Vascular Health in

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Sandra A. Billinger1, Jason-Flor V. Sisante1, Abdulfattah S. Alqahtani1, Mamatha Pasnoor2,
and Patricia M. Kluding1
1Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of Kansas Medical
Center
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2Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center

Abstract
Aims—Aerobic exercise improves vascular endothelial function in people with Type 2 diabetes
mellitus (T2DM). There is minimal information is available regarding vascular health in people
with T2DM and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Thus, the primary aim of this secondary
analysis was to determine whether a 16-week aerobic exercise intervention could improve vascular
health in people with T2DM and DPN. A secondary aim was to explore the relationship between
changes in flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and the number of years since diagnosis of DPN.

Methods—We examined whether a 16-week aerobic exercise intervention would improve

vascular health in people with T2DM and DPN. We used Doppler ultrasound to assess brachial
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artery diameter and peak shear at baseline and post-exercise. Paired t-tests were used to determine
whether the outcome measures improved from baseline to post-intervention. Pearson correlation
assessed the relationship between DPN (years) and the percent change score (pre- to post-
intervention) for FMD.

Results—Seventeen individuals were included in the data analysis. After the intervention, peak
diameter increased (3.9 (0.5) to 4.0(0.5) mm; p = 0.07). Time to peak shear occurred at 60.5 (24.6)
seconds when compared to baseline at 68.2 (22.7) seconds; p = 0.17). We found that a longer
duration (in years) of DPN demonstrated a fair, negative relationship (r = −0.41, p = 0.19) with the
percent change in FMD.

Conclusion—Aerobic exercise was beneficial for improving measures of vascular health but
these were not statistically significant. The magnitude of change may be affected by the duration
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of DPN.

Keywords
ultrasound; cardiovascular; diabetes; physical activity

Corresponding Author: Sandra A Billinger, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, MS 2002, Kansas City, KS
66160; 913-945-6685 (office); 913-588-6910 (fax) sbillinger@kumc.edu.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors along are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.
 Billinger et al. Page 2

Introduction
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People with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) often present with impaired vascular
endothelial function.(1–4) The vascular endothelium may be greatly affected by the chronic
alterations in blood glucose regulation(5) and may be the result of advanced hyperglycemic
damage.(6, 7) At rest, lower extremity blood flow was reduced in people with T2DM when
compared to healthy controls when matched for age, gender, weight and fitness level.(7)
However, these differences were not statistically significant. During a bout of exercise, the
people with T2DM had significantly lower leg blood flow than the control group. The
authors reported that those with T2DM had an impaired response to acetylcholine. These
findings suggest that those with T2DM exhibit vascular endothelial dysfunction when the
system is challenged such as physical exertion.

Aerobic exercise training has demonstrated a positive impact on vascular endothelial

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function in people with T2DM.(3, 8) Increasing shear stress such as during exercise is
generally beneficial and may facilitate adaptive structural remodeling of the artery wall
through these endothelium-mediated mechanisms.(9) One study implemented an 8-week
aerobic exercise intervention in people with T2DM and age-matched controls. The study did
not find adaptive arterial remodeling but reported improved vascular endothelial function
within 2 weeks of the intervention and this improvement was maintained in both groups at 4,
6, and 8 weeks of the intervention.(3)

Exercise-induced improvements in vascular endothelial function in people with T2DM are

encouraging, but less is known in people who have T2DM and diabetic peripheral
neuropathy (DPN). One study investigated the relationship between vascular endothelial
function of the brachial artery and the presence of neuropathy.(10) To assess endothelial
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function of the brachial artery the authors used a non-invasive technique called flow-
mediated dilation (FMD). To determine the presence of neuropathy, the study examined
sensory conduction velocity of the sural nerve and motor conduction velocity of the median
nerve. The authors reported that FMD was positively and significantly related with both the
sensory and motor conduction velocities. A negative association was found between duration
of diabetes (in years) and FMD.

Thus, the primary aim of this secondary analysis was to determine whether a 16-week
aerobic exercise intervention could improve vascular health in people with T2DM and DPN.
Therefore, we hypothesized that our measures of vascular health would improve after the
aerobic exercise intervention. A secondary aim was to explore the relationship between
changes in FMD and 1) the number of years since diagnosis of DPN and 2) the change in
neuropathy symptoms using the Total Neuropathy Score (TNS), which is a composite
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measure of peripheral nerve function that includes grading of signs/symptoms, nerve

conduction studies, and quantitative sensory testing.(11)

Materials and Methods

Twenty people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (confirmed by study neurologist) were
enrolled into an aerobic exercise intervention study. Detailed information regarding the

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aerobic exercise intervention and methodology used for confirmation of DPN has been
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described in detail in our previous work.(12) The original study was approved by the Human
Subjects Committee at University of Kansas Medical Center. Institutionally approved
written informed consent was obtained prior to study participation.

Individuals who were between 40–70 years of age, who were previously sedentary, were
safe to participate (by physician medical release form), and reported a diagnosis of T2DM
with symptoms of neuropathy were enrolled into the study. The symptoms of neuropathy
were bilateral, chronic symptoms of numbness, pain or tingling in the feet. The 16-week
aerobic exercise intervention was three times per week. Individuals started at 50% of VO2
reserve (VO2R) for 30 minutes and increased to 70% VO2R.(12) Exercise time increased
during the aerobic exercise intervention.

Flow Mediated Dilation (FMD)

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We have reported our methodology for FMD.(12, 13) Participants were asked to refrain from
food or caffeine for 12 hours and no vigorous activity for 24 hours prior to the FMD
procedure. Data was collected between the hours of 7:30am and 9:30am and kept at similar
times of day for each participant. Individuals were also asked to refrain from morning
medications but were allowed to take them immediately after the FMD procedure. The
participant rested supine for 20 minutes in a temperature controlled (22–24 degrees Celsius)
and a quiet, dimly lit room.(13) Participants were not allowed to cross the legs at rest or
during the procedure. However, if participants reported low back pain during supine lying,
we placed a bolster under the knees for participant comfort. After the 20-minute rest period,
blood pressure (BP) was taken. Heart rate (HR) was monitored continuously using a 3-lead
EKG.
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An automated cuff with rapid inflation system (D.E. Hokanson, Bellevue, Washington) was
placed just distal to the olecranon process.(14, 15) We used a stabilizing device to allow for
optimal scanning of the brachial artery and avoid arm movements during the ultrasound
imaging. The brachial artery was identified longitudinally always at the same reference
point, 2–3 cm proximal to the antecubital fossa using an ultrasound system and a 7.5 MHz
linear array transducer (Siemens Medical Solutions, Malvern, Pennsylvania). Once a
satisfactory image of the brachial artery was obtained, the transducer was stabilized using a
custom-designed holder. We then marked the location of the ultrasound probe on the arm
using a marker and measured the vertical and horizontal distance from the olecranon process
to the probe to ensure identical placement of the probe at the post-intervention visit. We also
saved the information from the ultrasound screen at the baseline study visit information for
depth, frequency and insonation angle.
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We captured Doppler velocity measurements at an insonation angle of 60 degrees using the

ultrasound system. Baseline diameter and blood flow velocity was recorded continuously for
60 seconds after the 20 minutes rest period. Then the pneumatic cuff was inflated to
suprasystolic pressure (220 mmHg) and maintained for 5 minutes. Twenty seconds prior to
cuff deflation, recording of diameter and blood flow velocity was resumed. At 5 minutes, the
cuff was deflated while ultrasound images continued to be recorded for an additional 3

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minutes. All images were stored on a computer and analyzed off-line using specialized
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software (Brachial Analyzer, Medical Imaging Applications, Coralville, Iowa).

Data Analysis
We used paired sample t-tests to determine whether the measures of vascular health
improved from baseline to post-intervention. Pearson correlation was used to assess the
relationship between DPN (presence of neuropathy in years) and the percent change score
(pre- to post-intervention) in FMD. We also wanted to assess whether the percent change
score in FMD was related to the TNS change score. To understand the strength of the
relationship of our selected outcome measures, we used criteria defined by Portney and
Watkins:(16) Pearson’s coefficient (r) = 0.00 – 0.25, little to no relationship; r = 0.25 – 0.50,
fair relationship; r = 0.50 – 0.75, moderate to good relationship; and r >0.75, good to
excellent relationship. P-values were considered significant at p ≤ 0.05. All statistical
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analyses were performed using IBM SPPS® Statistics Software Version 20 (Armonk, New
York).

Results
Seventeen individuals were included in the secondary analysis. Of the 20 enrolled
participants, two withdrew from the study and 18 completed the 16-week aerobic exercise
intervention. One participant’s resting blood flow data (pre-cuff inflation) was not
analyzable due to movement and not included in the secondary analysis. Participant
characteristics are reported in Table 1. All outcome measures at baseline and post-
intervention are summarized in Table 2. Resting baseline brachial artery diameter and shear
stress was essentially unchanged after the intervention. We previously reported that percent
FMD was significantly improved post-intervention.(12) The absolute mean difference in
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percent FMD was 2.1%, which is below a clinically relevant improvement of 3.6%.(17)
Time to peak brachial artery dilation occurred 7.7 seconds faster post-intervention but this
finding was not statistically significant. Peak diameter increased after the intervention but
this was not statistically significant (p = 0.07).

We found that the amount of time (in years) DPN was present demonstrated a negative, fair
relationship with the change in FMD (r = −0.41, p = 0.19). This suggests that the
improvement in FMD after an aerobic exercise program may be negatively affected or
blunted by the number of years with DPN. We report that the pre-to post-intervention
improvement in the change score in FMD was fairly related to a decrease in the TNS (r =
−0.40, p = 0.13).
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Discussion
The major findings in this study were, first, that people with a history of T2DM and DPN
demonstrate impaired FMD. Although not a primary aim of the study, we found that our
reported values are similar to previously published values in people with T2DM and no
DPN.(1, 3, 4, 10, 18) Second, a structured 16-week aerobic exercise intervention at moderate
intensity beginning at 50% VO2R and increased to 70% of VO2R can improve vascular
measures in people with DPN. Since brachial artery endothelial dependent dilation reflects

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cardiovascular risk, our data suggest that moderate aerobic exercise may reduce
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cardiovascular risk by improving overall vascular health. Third, we demonstrate that the pre-
to post-intervention change in percent FMD may be blunted by the duration of time
diagnosed with DPN.

DPN and FMD

This study demonstrated that FMD is impaired in people with a diagnosis of DPN. We report
baseline values for FMD were 5.0 ± 3.6%, which is similar to other reports in people with
T2DM.(1, 3, 4, 10, 18) Our values for FMD were not surprising given the co-morbid
cardiovascular conditions along with T2DM. Although this was not the primary focus of the
secondary analysis, reporting these FMD measures is an important first step in this patient
population. We did not include endothelial-independent vasodilation in our study
procedures. Including endothelial-independent vasodilation would have provided insight on
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“vascular smooth muscle sensitivity to nitric oxide.”(19) This is one limitation in our study
since people with DPN have nerve damage.

Aerobic Exercise and FMD

The primary focus on this secondary analysis was to investigate whether a moderate-
intensity aerobic exercise intervention can improve measures of vascular health in people
with DPN. The majority of the literature supports aerobic exercise is beneficial for measures
of vascular health in people with T2DM, but no information is available for those with DPN.
We found that a 16-week aerobic exercise intervention improved FMD, peak diameter and
the time to peak FMD. We previously reported a signficant improvement in FMD from
baseline to post-intervention.(12) The magnitiude of improvement in FMD was lower than
reported values from an 8-week combined aerobic and resistance exercise program in
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T2DM.(8) The authors reported extremely low baseline FMD values, 1.7% compared to
5.0% in our participants. Another potential reason may be due to the exercise training
intensity prescribed. We prescribed beginning exercise at 50% VO2R and increased to 70%
during the 16 weeks. Maiorana and colleagues progressed aerobic exercise to participant
tolerance for the first 3 weeks but then maintained aerobic exercise between 70–85% of HR
reserve for the remaining weeks. Although the starting work rate was not clearly stated, the
ending workrate was considered high intensity and may have resulted in a greater
improvement in FMD. A recent study used an 8-week aerobic and resistance exercise
training protocol(3) except the aerobic exercise training intensity was 70–75%HRR. At this
work rate, the magnitude of change in FMD is similar but slightly less than our findings.

Differences in study procedures may account for the variability in the magnitude of change
in FMD. All of our testing procedures were done at similar times of day in the morning
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(between 7:30am and 9:30am) following an overnight fast and study participants were asked
to refrain from taking medications until after the procedure. The study by Maiorana and
colleagues differs in a couple of ways.(8) First, individuals were allowed to take medications
4 hours prior to the FMD scan. Current recommendations for FMD procedures suggests
medications should be witheld for at least 6 hours to avoid confounding effects on FMD.(15)
If medications are not witheld for at least 6 hoursthen information regarding which drugs
and time taken in proximity to the FMD scan is recommended. (15) Medications were not

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listed so the influence of a specific drug(s) on vascular constriction or dilation is unknown.

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Second, the methodology for the study by Maiorana et al(8) for FMD was strain-gauge
plethysmography versus Doppler ultrasound. While both methods are acceptable, these may
account for differences in measures. Third, DPN is a complicaton of T2DM and can result in
“slow peripheral nerve degeneration”.(12) It is plausible that people with DPN may not
respond as effectively to improved vascular function as healthy individuals or those with
T2DM and no DPN. Future work should consider a randomized controlled trial to determine
whether vascular function in people with DPN responds to a similar magnitude as people
with T2DM.

DPN Measures and FMD

Since the presence of DPN can result in nerve degeneration,(12) this may have some effect
on vascular measures including FMD. Aerobic exercise may be a therapeutic intervention
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targeted at improving symptoms of DPN. In a prior study of people with DPN, a 10-week
aerobic exercise intervention improved neuropathic symptoms and increased the number of
intraepidermal nerve fiber branching.(20) While a positive finding of the study, there was no
mention of DPN duration in relationship to intraepidermal nerve fiber branching. Therefore,
we wanted to examine whether a longer duration of DPN may have a negative impact such
as blunting the response to an aerobic exercise intervention on FMD. This is the first study
to address whether the years with DPN are related to changes in FMD after an aerobic
exercise intervention. We report those with a longer the duration of DPN (in years) had less
improvement in FMD following the 16-week exercise program. Although the findings were
not statistically significant in this small sample, there is early evidence that the longer DPN
exists, the less improvement in FMD. We recognized that this is subjective and the exact
time point for DPN symptoms is unknown. Therefore we chose to use a valid and
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reliable(11) measure of peripheral nerve function to determine whether a change in the TNS
would be related to change in FMD pre- to post-intervention.

Similar to the findings related to duration of DPN, we report an inverse relationship between
the change in FMD and TNS. Thus, the decrease in TNS score (improvement in symptoms)
demonstrated a fair relationship with improved FMD score (r = −0.40, p = 0.13). While
previous work demonstrated improved pain rating and neuropathic symptoms after aerobic
exercise,(20) this study extends the findings by using a more comprehensive composite
assessment of neuropathy and examining vascular function (FMD). A limitation of this
current study was not assessing non-endothelial dependent vasodilation. This assessment
would have provided information related to smooth muscle response to a vasodilator such as
nitroglycerin. Using this technique would have provided a more complete picture of vascular
health in those with DPN. Future work needs to further examine whether both endothelial-
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dependent and endothelial-independent vasodilation are impaired in people with DPN and
the contribution to peripheral vascular health. This is a secondary analysis of the parent
study(12) and acknowledge the small sample size is a limitation of the study. Since the
parent study was an exploratory study to determine safety of aerobic exercise in people with
DPN, we are not powered to detect changes in the vascular outcome measures and the
results should be interpreted with caution. Finally, aerobic exercise has demonstrated
improvements in intraepidermal nerve fiber branching(20) and now we demonstrate

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improvements (although not statistically significant) in measures of vascular health. An area

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of future work to be considered is whether changes in FMD and intraepidermal nerve fiber
branching are improved to a similar magnitude after an aerobic exercise intervention.

Conclusion
In conclusion, we found that a 16-week aerobic exercise program can improve measures of
vascular health in people with DPN. We found improvements in peak arterial diameter and
faster response time to peak dilation. However, the absolute mean different in percent FMD
was 2.1%, which is below a clinically relevant improvement of 3.6%. We also report that
people with DPN can improve measures of vascular health but the improvements may be
blunted by duration and severity of DPN.

Acknowledgments
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Acknowledgement of Support:

SAB is supported in part by K01HD067318 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health
and Human Development. JFS was supported in part by Award Number T32HD057850 from the National Institutes
of Health. ASA was supported in part by funding from King Saud University. This project was supported by an
Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award, NIH/NCATS Grant Number UL1TR000001. The content is
solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Eunice Kennedy
Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, or the National Institutes of Health. Thank you
to Sarah Kwapiszeski for her assistance with manuscript preparation.

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Table 1

Characteristics of the study population at baseline

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Variable Number or Group Mean (SD)

(n = 17)
Male/female 4/13
Race/ethnicity
White non-Hispanic 8
Hispanic 6
Black non-Hispanic 3
Age (years) 58.1 (5.1)
Years with diabetes 14.7 (6.4)
Years with neuropathy 6.8 (4.0)
Resting SBP (mmHg) 136.6 (13.9)
Resting DBP (mmHg) 76.9 (7.9)
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Total neuropathy score 11.9 (5.6)

HbA1C (%) 7.6 (2.0)

SD = Standard deviation; SBP = Systolic blood pressure; mmHg = Millimeters of mercury; DBP = Diastolic blood pressure; HbA1C = Glycated
hemoglobin
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Table 2

Vascular health measures pre- and post-intervention

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Pre-intervention Post-intervention p-Value

Pre-cuff inflation
Vessel diameter (mm) 3.6 (0.6) 3.6 (0.5) 0.27
Shear 223.0 (80.9) 217.6 (64.5) 0.48
Post-cuff deflation

Percent FMD [12]1 5.0 (3.6) 7.1 (4.5) 0.01

Peak diameter (mm) 3.9 (0.5) 4.0 (0.5) 0.07

Time to peak diameter (s) 68.2 (22.7) 60.5 (24.6) 0.17
Peak shear 435.8 (115.7) 411.9 (117.5) 0.22

1
Percent FMD has been previously reported. Values are means (standard deviation) unless otherwise noted.
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FMD = Flow-mediated dilation; mm = Millimeters; s = Seconds.

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