The Effect of High-Intensity Short-Duration Exercise Versus Moderate-Intensity High-Volume Exercise on Glucose Control

NCT07829042 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: STUDY00000257
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 12
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will be conducted as a prospective, randomized crossover trial evaluating non-diabetic and pre-diabetic adults ($n=12$) continuously monitored with Dexcom G7 continuous glucose monitors over an 11-day period. Participants will complete two distinct exercise protocols in a randomized sequence: five consecutive days of Zone 2 aerobic exercise and a single session of high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Primary outcome metrics will focus on mean glucose levels and time in range (TIR, defined as $\\le 120\\text{ mg/dL}$) recorded throughout each active exercise block and its associated recovery window. To evaluate the comparative efficacy of the two modalities, paired within-subject differences will be statistically analyzed against pre-specified non-inferiority margins set at $3\\text{ mg/dL}$ for mean glucose, as well as a primary $3$-point and secondary $5$-point margin for time in range.

Conditions

Glucose Control

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Mean Glucose Concentration

  Average glucose level recorded by continuous glucose monitor (CGM) across the exercise intervention block and its subsequent recovery window.

  Measured continuously over each 5-day exercise/recovery block within the 11-day monitoring period.

• Time in Range (TIR)

  Percentage of time spent with sensor glucose values under 120mg/dL during the active exercise block and its recovery window.

  Measured continuously over each 5-day exercise/recovery block within the 11-day monitoring period.

Study Arms (2)

Moderate Intensity Exercise

EXPERIMENTAL

Five consecutive days of moderate intensity aerobic exercise

Other: Moderate Intensity aerobic training

High Intensity Exercise

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

One session High-Intensity Interval training

Other: High Intensity Interval Training

Interventions

High Intensity Interval Training OTHER

The Norwegian 4x4: The workout begins with a 5-to-10-minute warm-up, followed by four separate 4-minute high-intensity intervals where you push your body to 85%-95% of your maximum heart rate (roughly an 8 or 9 out of 10 effort level, where you are breathing too heavily to speak full sentences). Each intense "push" is interspersed with a 3-minute active recovery period of low-intensity movement-such as walking or light cycling-to let your heart rate drop back down to roughly 60%-70% of its maximum before starting the next round.

High Intensity Exercise

Moderate Intensity aerobic training OTHER

45 minutes of zone 2 training for five consecutive days

Moderate Intensity Exercise

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age 18 years or older Non-diabetic or pre-diabetic status (defined by medical history or standard screening criteria, e.g., HbA1c \< 6.5%) Capable and willing to participate in both Zone 2 aerobic exercise and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) protocols Willing to wear a continuous glucose monitor (Dexcom G7) continuously for the 11-day study duration Able to provide written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Diagnosis of Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes Use of glucose-lowering medications, insulin, or other pharmaceuticals that significantly alter glucose metabolism Current skin conditions, allergies, or sensitivities to medical-grade adhesives that prevent continuous glucose monitor placement Musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, or neurological conditions that contraindicate vigorous exercise or high-intensity interval training Pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study period Concurrent participation in another clinical trial or interventional exercise study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of California, San Francisco: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of California, San Francisco

San Francisco, California, 94143, United States

Location

Related Publications (5)

• Dent JR, Stocks B, Campelj DG, Philp A. Transient changes to metabolic homeostasis initiate mitochondrial adaptation to endurance exercise. Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2023 Jul 15;143:3-16. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.03.022. Epub 2022 Mar 26.

  PMID: 35351374 BACKGROUND

• Cartee GD. Mechanisms for greater insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in normal and insulin-resistant skeletal muscle after acute exercise. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2015 Dec 15;309(12):E949-59. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00416.2015. Epub 2015 Oct 20.

  PMID: 26487009 BACKGROUND

• Colberg SR, Sigal RJ, Yardley JE, Riddell MC, Dunstan DW, Dempsey PC, Horton ES, Castorino K, Tate DF. Physical Activity/Exercise and Diabetes: A Position Statement of the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care. 2016 Nov;39(11):2065-2079. doi: 10.2337/dc16-1728. No abstract available.

  PMID: 27926890 BACKGROUND

• Tucker WJ, Fegers-Wustrow I, Halle M, Haykowsky MJ, Chung EH, Kovacic JC. Exercise for Primary and Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: JACC Focus Seminar 1/4. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022 Sep 13;80(11):1091-1106. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2022.07.004.

  PMID: 36075680 BACKGROUND

• Wei J, Shen M, Li S, Xiao Y, Luo D, Ferrari G, Lee DH, Rezende LFM, Gill JMR, Ahmadi MN, Stamatakis E, Chen X. Volume vs intensity of physical activity and risk of cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular chronic diseases. Eur Heart J. 2026 Mar 29:ehag168. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehag168. Online ahead of print.

  PMID: 41905344 BACKGROUND

Related Links

• Related Info

MeSH Terms

Interventions

High-Intensity Interval Training

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Physical Conditioning, Human; Exercise; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Jeanne Noble, MD

  University of California, San Francisco

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Jeanne Noble, MD

CONTACT

5109676874; jeanne.noble@ucsf.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 2, 2026
• First Posted: September 18, 2026
• Study Start: September 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 20, 2026
• Last Updated: September 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)