1. Rachel Whittle Undergraduate ( Health Science Concentration) Department of Biology Tennessee Tech University Cookeville, TN 38505 Influence Diet and Exercise Have on Blood Glucose Levels

2.  Objective ◦ To find out how diet and exercise can influence blood glucose levels  Hypothesis ◦ When less sugar and complex carbs. are in the diet, and exercise is incorporated blood glucose levels will be lower  Null ◦ There will be no difference in the experimental treatment and control groups Introduction

3.  I found that, “Blood-glucose control is critical for managing diabetes and preventing diabetes-related complications such as cardiovascular disease, retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy (US CDCP. 2007).”  I know that diet and exercise can influence blood glucose levels because, ”The central nervous system is dependent on the availability of blood glucose, requiring control and regulation of systemic glucose levels. Because of limited endogenous carbohydrate stores, dietary restriction of carbohydrate requires marked metabolic adaptations to prevent hypoglycemia and hepatic depletion (Bowden R.G. etc. 2007).”  My hypothesis that eating right and exercise will cause my blood glucose levels to be lower is supported by the following information, “The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) produced startling results indicating that persons who have not yet developed T2DM but who have risk factors including impaired glucose tolerance, a family history, obesity, or gestational diabetes can delay the onset and perhaps even prevent the appearance of T2DM through a program of weight reduction ( Michel T. etc. 2008).”

4.  My hypothesis that my blood glucose levels will be higher on days when I high complex carbohydrates and do not exercise is supported by the following information, “Research indicates that the body absorbs carbohydrates from different foods at different rates, leading to varying effects on levels of blood glucose and insulin. Simple carbohydrate foods — such as white rice, white bread and refined sugar — score high on the glycemic index; these foods cause a rapid spike and then a drop in blood glucose. High-fiber foods — the “complex” carbohydrates, like whole grains — are lower on the glycemic index and have a more gradual effect on blood sugar and insulin (unknown. 2008).”  “The EDIC study found the benefits of tight glucose control on diabetic micro vascular problems persisted long after the DCCT ended. This long- lasting benefit of tight control has been termed “metabolic memory ( Sherman F. T. 2008).”

5.  F:\scientific method.doc F:\scientific method.doc  F:\Biology3920\experimental design.doc F:\Biology3920\experimental design.doc

9. Results Fig. 1.1 Blood Glucose Levels

10. Results con… Table 1.3 Averages

11.  The results of my experiment which tested the influence of diet and exercise on blood glucose levels proved to reject the null hypothesis. My results supported the US CDCP statement that, “Blood-glucose control is critical for managing diabetes and preventing diabetes-related complications such as cardiovascular disease, retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy (US CDCP. 2007).”  Days when my diet had an increased amount of carbohydrates my blood glucose levels were higher. ”The central nervous system is dependent on the availability of blood glucose, requiring control and regulation of systemic glucose levels. Because of limited endogenous carbohydrate stores, dietary restriction of carbohydrate requires marked metabolic adaptations to prevent hypoglycemia and hepatic depletion (Bowden R.G. etc. 2007).”  When I incorporated exercise with a healthy diet the influence I had on my blood glucose levels was significant, I was able to maintain a lower blood glucose. “The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) produced startling results indicating that persons who have not yet developed T2DM but who have risk factors including impaired glucose tolerance, a family history, obesity, or gestational diabetes can delay the onset and perhaps even prevent the appearance of T2DM through a program of weight reduction (Michel T. etc. 2008).” 

12.  When I consumed high complex carbohydrates within two hours my blood glucose level increased to its peak, those results directly support the following cited information. “Research indicates that the body absorbs carbohydrates from different foods at different rates, leading to varying effects on levels of blood glucose and insulin. Simple carbohydrate foods — such as white rice, white bread and refined sugar — score high on the glycemic index; these foods cause a rapid spike and then a drop in blood glucose. High-fiber foods — the “complex” carbohydrates, like whole grains — are lower on the glycemic index and have a more gradual effect on blood sugar and insulin (unknown. 2008).”  I can easily see from result how tight glucose control can set a metabolic memory. “The EDIC study found the benefits of tight glucose control on diabetic micro vascular problems persisted long after the DCCT ended. This long-lasting benefit of tight control has been termed “metabolic memory (Sherman F. T. 2008).”

13.  The null hypothesis was rejected  Blood glucose levels were significantly lower when a healthy diet and an exercise routine was followed  Blood glucose levels were lower when a healthy diet was followed without an exercise program, then when an unhealthy diet was followed with an exercise program  Blood glucose levels were lower when an unhealthy diet was followed with an exercise program, than when an unhealthy diet was followed without an exercise program.  Diet and exercise both proved to influence blood glucose levels.  Diet had the larger influence on blood glucose levels then exercise.