How tiny blood-vessel insulin problems affect fitness in type 2 diabetes
Official title: Role of Microvascular insulin resistance and cardiorespiratory fitness in diabetes
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11323456 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether problems with insulin’s control of tiny blood vessels make it harder for adults with type 2 diabetes to exercise and whether exercise training can help.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 1, 2021 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $711,928 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK124344-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11323456 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older with type 2 diabetes who can safely perform exercise testing and attend clinic visits would be the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with type 1 diabetes, severe cardiac disease, or those unable to exercise or travel to the study sites would likely not be eligible or benefit.
What this research studies
You would be asked to come to clinic visits where researchers measure how insulin affects blood flow in your heart and skeletal muscles, along with tests of oxygen delivery and exercise performance. The teams will use imaging, blood tests, and supervised exercise tests to compare people with type 2 diabetes to reference groups. Some participants will take part in an exercise training program to see if improving fitness restores insulin-mediated blood flow and muscle/heart function. Data from two clinical sites will be combined to learn which changes link insulin resistance to lower exercise capacity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could show that exercise restores insulin-controlled small-vessel blood flow and improves heart and muscle performance, guiding treatments to boost fitness and lower complications in type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show exercise improves insulin sensitivity and fitness, but directly linking insulin-driven microvascular blood flow in heart and muscle to exercise capacity in type 2 diabetes is a newer and less-established area.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reusch, Jane E — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Reusch, Jane E
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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.