1. Introduction
diabetes, type 2 diabetes, Diabetes
DIABETES, TYPE 2 DIABETES, CHRONIC DISEASES, DIABETES
These authors contributed equally to this work.Background: This study is a preliminary study to examine the effect of a virtual reality exercise program (VREP) on type 2 diabetes patients. Method: This is a randomized controlled trial for patients with type 2 diabetes (glycated hemoglobin ≥ 6.5%), diagnosed by a specialist. The virtual reality environment was set up by attaching an IoT sensor to an indoor bicycle and linking it with a smartphone, enabling exercise in an immersive virtual reality through a head-mounted display. The VREP was implemented three times a week, for two weeks. The blood glucose, body composition, and exercise immersion were analyzed at baseline, and two weeks before and after the experimental intervention. Result: After VREP application, the mean blood glucose (F = 12.001 Diabetes is one of the major chronic diseases, with 463 million people reportedly affected by it worldwide in 2019, which is expected to gradually increase to 578 million by 2030 and 700 million by 2045 [However, only approximately 36% of patients with diabetes in South Korea engage in regular physical activity [Cycling is a representative aerobic exercise that can be easily performed. In particular, indoor cycling does not require a lot of space, and can be performed at any time regardless of the weather, time, and season, and can be performed in the current COVID-19 situation. It has the advantage of being able to set an appropriate exercise intensity for each individual, by measuring real-time speed, distance, exercise time, and calorie consumption, and by adjusting the resistance and rotation speed of the wheel [VR is a technology that ensures realistic real-world experience, by stimulating the individual by creating an environment that is difficult or impossible to obtain in reality, using artificial technology [However, among the previous studies that applied VR, a scarcity of studies applying VR to patients with type 2 diabetes exists. Therefore, our study attempted to determine the effects on blood glucose, body composition, and exercise immersion, by applying a 2-week VR exercise program (VREP) in patients with type 2 diabetes.