Exercise Enhances Wound Healing in Patients With Diabetic Foot Ulcers

The overarching purpose of this study is to investigate the impact that exercise, as delivered through a medically supervised, outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program, has on the wound healing process in Type 2 diabetics having foot ulcers classified as being Wound, Ischemia, foot Infection (WIfI) stage 2 or lower. The criterion reference measure of diabetic foot ulcer wound healing is be the time required to reach the maturation phase of the wound healing cascade (wound closure without drainage).

Inclusion Criteria: * diagnosis of type 2 diabetes * 20 - 80 years of age * Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) \> 0.6 or Toe Pressure (TcPO2) \> 40 mmHg * recent (within 12 weeks) blood glucose value between 100 - 350 mg/dL * recent (within 12 weeks) HbA1c value \< 14 %, * DFU of WIfI Grade 2 or less * fluency in reading and speaking English or Spanish. Exclusion Criteria: * inability to provide own consent * inability to obtain permission to participate from a medical professional * lack of consistent mode of transportation to UNMH * infection to any part of the body * patients that has had a transplant and/or is immunocompromised * prisoners.