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

September 14, 2026 updated by: University of California, San Francisco

The Effect of High-Intensity Short-Duration Exercise Versus Moderate-Intensity High-Volume Exercise on Glucose Control as Measured by Continuous Glucose Monitoring

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.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

12

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • San Francisco, California, United States, 94143
        • University of California, San Francisco

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

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.

Exclusion Criteria:

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.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Moderate Intensity Exercise
Five consecutive days of moderate intensity aerobic exercise
Other: Moderate Intensity aerobic training
45 minutes of zone 2 training for five consecutive days
Active Comparator: High Intensity Exercise
One session High-Intensity Interval training
Other: High Intensity Interval Training
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.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mean Glucose Concentration
Time Frame: Measured continuously over each 5-day exercise/recovery block within the 11-day monitoring period.
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)
Time Frame: Measured continuously over each 5-day exercise/recovery block within the 11-day monitoring period.
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.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of California, San Francisco

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Jeanne Noble, MD, University of California, San Francisco

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

September 15, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

October 15, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

October 20, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 2, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 14, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

September 18, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 18, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 14, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • STUDY00000257

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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