Leeds Beckett University are looking for adults diagnosed with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes to take part in a study exploring how short bouts of physical activity—known as “exercise snacking”—can help manage blood glucose levels.

Participants will be asked to attend two lab visits over a period of approximately two weeks.

The first visit will include a health screening, familiarisation with the study procedures, and simple body measurements (e.g., height, weight, blood pressure, and heart rate) and confirmation that they meet the criteria of having a fasted blood glucose above 5.5 mmol.L or HbA1c above 6%.

On visit one or two, participants will be randomly assigned to perform some light activities (exercise snacking) in the lab or remain seated and rested throughout testing. On the day of testing, participants will undergo:
  • Body composition measurements via bioelectrical impedance.
  • Mixed Meal Challenge – consume a drink, Ensure Plus Milk Shake*, which contains 17% Protein, 29% fat and 50% carbohydrates in a 220ml bottle (Abbott laboratories, Abbott Park, IL)
  • Before and during the mixed meal challenge they will perform 4 light activities for no more than 2 min each or remain seated and we will collect:
    1. Blood samples at: Pre drink, 30 min, 60 min, 90 min and 120 min.
    2. Arterial stiffness measurements at: Pre drink, 60 min, and 120 min.
    3. Respiratory gasses at: Pre drink, 40-60 min, and 100-120 min.
  • Complete a questionnaire on their typical physical activity levels.
Participants will then repeat the above measures around a week later but under the different condition (exercise snacking vs rest).

All visits will take place at the Leeds Beckett University Exercise Physiology Laboratories, and upon completion participants will receive a £25 gift voucher.

If you know anyone who may be interested or if you could help share this opportunity through your networks, we would be very grateful. For further information or to express interest, please feel free to get in touch using the contact details below.

Graduate Intern: Bethany Rumbellow

Researcher: Deaglan McCullough
Email: [email protected].uk
Leeds Beckett University Research Ethics Committee: Antonis Stavropoulos
Email: a.stavropoulos@leedsbeckett.ac.uk