THE EFFECT OF AEROBIC EXERCISE ON REDUCING BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS IN TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS PATIENTS AGED 50-60 YEARS AT BLANG BINTANG COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERACEH BESAR

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by elevated blood glucose levels due to impaired insulin secretion and insulin resistance, and it commonly occurs in older adults. Blood glucose control can be achieved not only through pharmacological therapy but also through structured physical exercise such as aerobic training.

 This study aimed to determine the effect of aerobic exercise on reducing blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus aged 50–60 years at Blang Bintang Public Health Center, Aceh Besar. This research employed an experimental method with a one-group pretest–posttest design. The subjects consisted of 20 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who participated in an aerobic exercise program, including Cardiac Healthy Gymnastics Series 2 and Creative Aerobic Exercise adjusted to elderly capabilities, conducted for 16 sessions.

 Data were collected through blood glucose measurements before (pre-test) and after (post-test) the intervention and analyzed using a t-test. The descriptive analysis showed that the mean pre-test blood glucose level was 215.1 mg/dl, while the mean post-test level was 181.7 mg/dl, with an average decrease of 33.4 mg/dl. The t-test results revealed that the calculated t-value (9.46) was greater than the t-table value (2.093) at a significance level of α = 0.05 (df = 19), indicating a significant effect. Therefore, it can be concluded that aerobic exercise, including Cardiac Healthy Gymnastics and Creative Aerobic Exercise, has a significant effect in reducing blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus aged 50–60 years and can be used as an effective non-pharmacological therapy in diabetes management.