Functional Balance, Aerobic Capacity and Fatigue in Middle-Aged Diabetic Women: A Comparative Study

Background Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose or blood sugar which leads over time to serious damage to the heart blood vessels eyes kidneys and nerves. Functional balance aerobic capacity is affected in older adults with Type II diabetes mellitus and they experience increased fatigue. The effect of Type II diabetes mellitus on functional balance aerobic capacity and fatigue in middle-aged women still remains unclear.Objective To compare functional balance aerobic capacity and fatigue in middle-aged diabetic women with age-matched healthy samples.Methodology This comparative study was conducted over a period of six months from March 2020 to August 2020. Twenty-four women aged 30 to 50 years with a physician-confirmed diagnosis of Type II diabetes mellitus for more than five years were included in this study along with age matched healthy individuals as controls. The subjects were asked to perform Y-Balance Test YBT to assess functional balance Rockport One-Mile Walking Test to assess maximal oxygen uptake VO max and fatigue was assessed with Fatigue Assessment Scale FAS.Results Comparisons between diabetes mellitus group and control group were drawn using Mann-Whitney U test. Statistically significant changes were observed in functional balance P0.00 aerobic capacity P0.00 and fatigue P0.00 in the diabetes mellitus group compared to the control group.Conclusion The findings of this study indicate that middle-aged diabetic women show reduced functional balance and aerobic capacity and increased fatigue levels compared to age-matched healthy individuals.nbsp