[The cardiorespiratory and metabolic response in diabetics to physical loading in the laboratory and under field conditions].
The authors investigated and compared the response of 26 men with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus to a physical load in the laboratory (bicycle spiroergometry with a work load graded up to a maximum) and recommended 20 min. walking or running under field conditions (constant speed beneath the "anaerobic threshold"). The mean maximal oxygen uptake per minute in the laboratory (2.81 +/- 0.47 l) was insignificantly lower than reference values and combined with the maximal minute heart rate (mean 175 +/- 17) very variable. During the load under field conditions the oxygen uptake practically did not change (1.64 +/- 0.59 l/min.) but the heart rate increased due to the declining stroke volume. The blood sugar level in the laboratory and during field exercise declined significantly. In the laboratory the base deficit and lactacidaemia increased markedly; under field conditions their concentration increased slightly and did not pass the anaerobic threshold level. The pyruvate, acetoacetate and beta-OH-butyrate concentrations did not change much and were consistent with the response of well controlled diabetic patients.