How exercise changes under-the-skin fat to help blood sugar control
Official title: Novel Mechanisms of Exercise Training Effects on Glucose Homeostasis
Funded at Joslin Diabetes Center · NIH-11257707 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at how exercise-related changes in the fat beneath the skin can improve blood sugar control for people with adult-onset (type 2) diabetes and related metabolic conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Joslin Diabetes Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 10, 2014 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $716,991 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK099511-12 |
| Project ID | NIH-11257707 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with adult-onset (type 2) diabetes or cardiometabolic disorders would be the most relevant group to follow or benefit from this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without metabolic or blood-sugar problems, or those seeking immediate treatment changes, are unlikely to get direct benefit because this is primarily basic translational research.
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers are exploring how subcutaneous white fat (the fat just under the skin) changes with regular exercise and how those changes affect whole-body blood sugar. They are focusing on molecules like lactate and glycogen and a fat-cell receptor called GPR81 to see how those signals reshape fat tissue. The work uses genetically modified mouse models alongside detailed lab tests of genes, proteins, and lipids to map those changes. Findings will be used to connect tissue-level adaptations to overall metabolic health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work might point to new ways—including exercise-based strategies or drugs that mimic exercise signals—to improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that exercise improves muscle and metabolic health and that adipose tissue changes matter, but targeting lactate, glycogen, and GPR81 in subcutaneous fat is a relatively new and growing area of work.
Where this research is happening
-
Joslin Diabetes Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goodyear, Laurie J — Joslin Diabetes Center
- Study coordinator: Goodyear, Laurie J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Resistance Exercise Training for Blood Pressure and Blood Vessel Health in Middle-Aged Women
A large study will test whether 16 weeks of supervised resistance exercise can lower blood pressure and improve blood vessel health in women aged 40–64 with high blood pressure.
-
Time-of-day exercise and social jetlag: protecting the heart and metabolic health
A study to see if misaligned daily schedules (social jetlag) reduce the benefits of exercise on heart and metabolic health in adults.
-
Intranasal insulin plus exercise to protect brain health in adults with type 2 diabetes
A small study will test whether combining inhaled insulin with aerobic exercise can improve brain blood flow, insulin signaling in the brain, and thinking skills in adults with type 2 diabetes.
-
High-intensity exercise to improve language after stroke
This project looks at whether a tailored high-intensity exercise program can help people with aphasia after stroke improve their speaking, thinking, and well-being.
-
Exercise training for people with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)
This project tests whether blocking specific muscle nerve signals with a spinal fentanyl injection changes circulation, muscle fatigue, and exercise ability in people with HFpEF compared with healthy controls.
-
Cognitive-behavioral therapy then exercise to lower type 2 diabetes risk in teenage girls
Teen girls at risk for type 2 diabetes will try short-term talking therapy first, then structured exercise, to help lift mood, increase activity, and lower diabetes risk.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.