Name and Surname: prof. Nejc Šarabon, PhD
Links: ARIS 21495, LINKEDIN
E-mail: nejc.sarabon@fvz.upr.si

Research facility (research activity location)
University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences,

Research field according to ARIS classification
Science: 
Field: Medicine and Kinesiology
Subfield: 

Summary of research topic and field

THE EFFECT OF A STRUCTURED EXERCISE INTERVENTION ON THE MUSCLES AND PERFORMANCE OF
PEOPLE WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES (over 65 years) Muscles have many bioactive molecules that affect
the functioning of the entire body. When we strengthen them through physical activity, the benefits
are versatile and holistic. Diabetes negatively affects skeletal muscles, leading to a decline in their
mass and function and development of sarcopenia. Studies also confirm this: elderly people with
diabetes develop sarcopenia twice as often as those without it. Low muscle mass leads to higher
mortality in diabetic patients and increases acute complications of the disease, especially infections.
Sarcopenic obesity is also a very common phenomenon: the proportion of lean body mass decreases
and the proportion of fat increases. Almost 20% of people with type 2 diabetes have it. The worse
glycemic control is, the greater the risk of developing sarcopenia. The doctoral thesis would address
the impact of structured exercise (which would include endurance exercise – aerobic, resistance
exercise – anaerobic and balance exercises) in people with type 2 diabetes (older than 65 years) on
the structure and composition of muscle tissue and the performance of the subjects. In order to
determine the basic objectives of the doctoral dissertation, a systematic review of the literature will
be carried out in the initial phase. The study will be designed as a randomized controlled intervention
study. The subjects will be divided into two groups (control group – no intervention and intervention
group, which will perform structured exercise under supervision 3x a week). Before and after the
intervention, the subjects will be measured (body composition (muscle mass), cross-section of the
shin muscles, muscle strength, bioimpedance, … glycemic control (glucose, HbA1c), lipid profile,
BMI).