Exercise Effects of Serum Ghrelin and Insulin Resistance in First-Degree Relatives of Type 2 Diabetics

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare serum ghrelin levels and insulin resistance in first-degree relatives
of type 2 diabetics before and after an exercise intervention.
Material and Methods: Participants aged 20–35, all first-degree relatives of diabetics, were recruited from
PGMI and Fatima Memorial College of Medicine and Dentistry. An 8-week exercise intervention was
implemented. Anthropometric and biochemical measurements, including fasting serum ghrelin, insulin, glucose,
and HOMA-IR, were recorded pre- and post-intervention. SPSS version 21 was used for data analysis. The
Shapiro-Wilk test assessed normality. Quantitative data were expressed as Mean ± SD, and paired t-tests or
Wilcoxon signed-rank tests determined pre- and post-exercise differences, with p < 0.05 as the significance
threshold.
Results: Exercise led to significant reductions in weight and BMI (p < 0.001). Biochemically, glycemic
markers decreased, and ghrelin levels rose significantly post-exercise (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Elevated ghrelin and reduced insulin resistance post-exercise may decrease diabetes risk in
genetically predisposed individuals.
Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus; ghrelin; serum insulin; fasting glucose; insulin resistance