Feasibility of Aerobic Exercise With Blood Flow Restriction Training in People Living With Type 2 Diabetes

NCT ID: NCT07196371

Last Updated: 2026-01-26

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

60 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2026-01-01

Study Completion Date

2028-12-31

Brief Summary

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The goal of this trial is to learn if blood flow restriction training with treadmill walking is possible for individuals living with type 2 diabetes. It will also learn about how the blood flow restriction with treadmill walking could improve health.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Is 6 weeks of treadmill walking with blood flow restriction reasonable for people with type 2 diabetes to perform? Does treadmill walking with blood flow restriction training help manage type 2 diabetes better than just treadmill walking?

Researchers will compare treadmill walking with blood flow restriction to treadmill walking without blood flow restriction to see if blood flow restriction works to manage type 2 diabetes based on fitness and blood sugar levels.

Participants will:

Perform treadmill walking with or without blood flow restriction for 96 minutes a week for 6 weeks.

Visit the lab before and after the exercise for tests and questionnaires.

Detailed Description

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Individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) display reduced cardiorespiratory fitness, which is a strong predictor of premature mortality and T2D-related complications. Aerobic training (AT) enhances cardiorespiratory fitness and is considered a cornerstone in the management and treatment of T2D. Emerging data suggest that AT combined with blood flow restriction (AT+BFR) training, could potentially enhance cardiorespiratory fitness faster than typical AT in healthy individuals. However, the feasibility of AT+BFR in individuals with T2D and its impact on cardiorespiratory fitness have yet to be determined.

Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to test the feasibility of a 6-week AT+BFR training intervention in individuals with T2D. The secondary objective is to establish preliminary effect sizes for the efficacy of AT+BFR training in individuals with T2D compared to the standard care AT (AT- stdCare).

Methods: This study is a single-blind (investigator \& statistical analyst), multi-site, randomized controlled pilot trial of a novel AT+BFR training intervention for individuals living with T2D, which has been informed by patients with lived experience. Participants will be randomized 1:1 using variable permuted block sizes (stratified by sex and site) into 1) AT+BFR or 2) AT-stdCare groups with outcome measures assessed at baseline and 6 weeks.

Population: In 3 sites across Canada, 60 (n=20 per site) individuals living with T2D (5.7% \< HbA1c \< 9.0%) aged 19-64 years, not meeting the physical activity guidelines (150 mins moderate-vigorous physical activity per week) will be recruited to participate in this 6-week pilot trial.

Intervention: Participants will perform supervised AT+BFR 3 times weekly for 32 minutes per session. A blood pressure cuff will be set between 60-80% of limb arterial occlusion with AT for 96 minutes per week of treadmill walking performed at 40-50% of heart rate reserve (HRR).

Participants in the AT-stdCare will perform 96 minutes per week of treadmill walking at 40-50% of HRR following the same schedule as AT+BFR, training 3 times per week for 32 minutes per session.

Outcomes: The main outcome measures will pertain to the feasibility of a larger trial and include recruitment rates, enrollment and adherence to the intervention, and retention for follow-up testing. The secondary outcomes will be focused on establishing effect sizes to power a larger trial. Effect sizes for the change in cardiorespiratory fitness and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) outcomes will be determined to help select and power a primary outcome for a more definitive trial of AT+BFR.

Conditions

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Type 2 Diabetes

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

single-blind, multi-site, randomized controlled pilot trial
Primary Study Purpose

OTHER

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Aerobic Training with Blood Flow Restriction

Participants will perform aerobic training with blood flow restriction.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Aerobic Training with Blood Flow Restriction

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will undergo a 6-week aerobic training intervention with blood flow restriction applied to the lower limbs.

Blood flow restriction will be applied using a blood pressure cuff set between 60-80% of limb arterial occlusion pressure.

Training will consist of treadmill walking at 40-50% of heart rate reserve (HRR) for 32 minutes per session, 3 times per week for a total of 96 minutes per week.

Standard Aerobic Training

Participants will perform aerobic training.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Standard Aerobic Training

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will follow the same aerobic training protocol as the AT+BFR group but without blood flow restriction.

Training will consist of treadmill walking at 40-50% of HRR for 32 minutes per session, 3 times per week for a total of 96 minutes per week.

Interventions

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Aerobic Training with Blood Flow Restriction

Participants will undergo a 6-week aerobic training intervention with blood flow restriction applied to the lower limbs.

Blood flow restriction will be applied using a blood pressure cuff set between 60-80% of limb arterial occlusion pressure.

Training will consist of treadmill walking at 40-50% of heart rate reserve (HRR) for 32 minutes per session, 3 times per week for a total of 96 minutes per week.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Standard Aerobic Training

Participants will follow the same aerobic training protocol as the AT+BFR group but without blood flow restriction.

Training will consist of treadmill walking at 40-50% of HRR for 32 minutes per session, 3 times per week for a total of 96 minutes per week.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (5.7% \< HbA1c \< 9.0%)
* Not regularly physically active (150 mins moderate-vigorous physical activity per week)

Exclusion Criteria

* Musculoskeletal issues preventing exercise training
* Unstable medications over the last 3 months
* Absolute contraindications to BFR (i.e. peripheral vascular disease)
* A self-reported diagnosis of low iron concentrations, anemia, or being treated for these conditions
* A diagnosis of any red blood cell-altering condition (i.e., sickle cell anemia, poikilocytosis)
* Currently living with any cardiovascular disease, which would impact the ability to participate in exercise safely
* Currently prescribed any medication which would impact the ability to use a heart rate monitor to accurately track intensity
Minimum Eligible Age

19 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

64 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Diabetes Canada

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Guelph

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of British Columbia

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of New Brunswick

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Martin Senechal

Full Professor and Acting Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Martin Senechal, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Cardiometabolic Exercise & Lifestyle Laboratory, Fredericton, New Brunswick

Locations

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Exercise Metabolism and Inflammation Laboratory

Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Cardiometabolic Exercise & Lifestyle Laboratory

Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada

Site Status RECRUITING

Human Performance & Health Research Laboratory

Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Canada

Central Contacts

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Martin Senechal, PhD

Role: CONTACT

506-451-6889

Jamie Burr, PhD

Role: CONTACT

519-824-4120 ext. ext 52591

Facility Contacts

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Jonathan Little, PhD

Role: primary

250-807-9876

Martin Senechal, PhD

Role: primary

506-451-6889

Jamie Burr, PhD

Role: primary

519-824-4120 ext. 52591

Other Identifiers

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2025-069

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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