THE EFFECTS OF ELDERLY GYMNASTICS ON THE BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVEL IN THE ELDERLY WITH DIABETES MELLITUS TYPE 2

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus type 2 occurs mostly in older adults. Physical fitness is highly needed to prevent and delay the degenerative and metabolic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus. This research was purposed to analyze the effects of elderly gymnastics on the blood glucose level in the elderly suffering from diabetes mellitus type 2. The design of this research was experimental using only post-test design in which the treatment group was assigned to do gymnastics, whereas the control group received no treatment. The results of analysis using Mann-Whitney test showed that there were no effects of elderly gymnastics on the post-test value of blood glucose level in which the value of Z test = -1.903 and p = 0.287 > 0.05. In conclusion, this research finds no effects of elderly gymnastics on the blood glucose level of the elderly with diabetes mellitus type 2. This is possibly resulted from the medication program, food consumption, and psychological condition of the elderly.