Fatigue Rate During Anaerobic and Aerobic Exercise in Insulin-Dependent Diabetics and Nondiabetics

This study was designed to determine whether insulin-dependent diabetics fatigue at a different rate than nondiabetics during anaerobic and aerobic exercise. The rate of fatigue during cycle ergometer exercise at 90 percent (anaerobic) and 60 percent (aerobic) of predicted maximum oxygen consumption in eight men who were insulin-dependent diabetics and eight nondiabetic men was determined. For the insulin-dependent diabetics, performance at 90 percent was a significantly better predictor (p less than .05) of performance at 60 percent than it was for the nondiabetics. The rate of fatigue during cycle ergometer exercise for insulin-dependent diabetics may be predictable, and this may be important in evaluating exercise tolerance for these patients.