Background: Irisin is an exercise-induced myokine that is reduced with type 2 diabetes and improves insulin resistance via the browning of white adipose tissues. However, irisin response to two types of exercise in patients with type 2 diabetes is unknown.

Materials and Methods: In this study, 22 diabetic Wistar rats (Induced by high-fat diet and injections Stz) were randomly assigned to 3 groups: high intensity interval exercise (HIIT), low intensity continuous training (LICT) and control (C). Both HIIT and LICT groups trained on the treadmill 5 sessions per week for 8 weeks. Blood samples were taken 24 hours after the last training session and plasma irisin, insulin and glucose levels were measured. ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests were used to analyze data and the level of significance has been considered at p≤0.05.

Results: Data analysis showed that plasma irisin levels in the HIIT group were significantly increased compared to the control group (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between other groups (p>0.05). Plasma glucose in both HIIT and LICT groups was significantly decreased compared to the control group (p<0.05). But plasma insulin levels and insulin resistance index were not different between groups (p>0.05).

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that exercise training can increase plasma irisin in rats with type 2 diabetes. However, these changes are partially dependent on the type of exercise training.