Table 1 Characteristics of the study participants at baseline and exercise volume of the study participants during the study period

Age (years)

51.9 ± 10.1

57.6 ± 7.8

Duration of diabetes (years)

6.1 ± 4.5

7.7 ± 6.3

Smoking status (never/past/current)

6/14/10

6/11/6

Diabetes treatment

 Sulphonylureas

10

9

 α glucosidase inhibitors

9

7

 Biguanides

6

1

 Thiazolidines

2

0

 Glinides

2

0

Body mass index (kg/m²)

25.9 ± 4.4

23.7 ± 3.5

Total body fat (%)

25.5 ± 7.6

21.9 ± 6.2

Lean body mass (kg)

52.7 ± 6.0

50.0 ± 6.4

Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)

139.2 ± 16.9

140.2 ± 21.2

Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)

85.6 ± 9.5

84.1 ± 11.3

Total cholesterol (mmol/l)

5.31 ± 0.85

5.32 ± 0.97

Triglyceride^a (mmol/l)

1.51 (1.04–2.32)

1.46 (0.88–1.90)

HDL cholesterol (mmol/l)

1.23 ± 0.25

1.46 ± 0.33

HbA1c (%)

7.5 ± 1.3

7.5 ± 1.0

Glycated albumin (%)

21.7 ± 4.8

23.5 ± 4.0

Peak \({\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{ 2}\) (ml/min/kg)

25.6 ± 5.2

27.0 ± 4.1

Peak \({\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{ 2}\) (%pred) (%)

97.3 ± 18.9

106.9 ± 15.1

FVC (%pred) (%)

110.5 ± 13.4

106.0 ± 12.8

FEV₁ (%pred) (%)

105.3 ± 13.2

107.8 ± 14.3

FEV₁/FVC (%)

78.8 ± 4.9

78.9 ± 4.2

Number of steps (/day)

6477 ± 2586

11,690 ± 4842

Number of exercise bouts (/week)

0.9 ± 0.8

8.8 ± 6.6