Acute Blood Flow Restriction Walking on Immune Cell Phenotype and Function
Type 2 Diabetes
What this study involves
The registry says this study is recruiting. Individual locations may have different availability.
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Not applicable
- Age range
- 19 years - 64 years
- Sex eligible
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Participants
- 20 Estimated
These are starting points, not an eligibility decision. The research team must review the full requirements.
About the research
To conduct a randomized control trial to determine the impact of acute blood flow restriction treadmill walking on immune cell counts, function, and phenotype in adults living with type 2 diabetes.
Read the full description
Participants will be randomized to a regular treadmill walking condition or treadmill walking with blood flow restriction (BFR) condition. In both groups participants will complete 32 minutes of treadmill walking at a speed and grade that elicit 40-50% heart rate reserve. In the BFR group the cuffs will be inflated based on each participants individualized limb occlusion pressure (LOP). The cuffs will remain inflated for the entire session but will deflate for 1 minute every 10 minutes based on safety recommendations. The percentage of LOP will 60%. Blood samples will be obtained pre-exercise (PRE), during the final 2 minutes of the final occlusion cycle (OCC), and 3 minutes into the recovery period post-exercise (POST) to measure outcomes.
Who may be able to participate?
The list below is the sponsor’s full registry wording. It can include conditions, prior treatment, test results and other requirements. A match in search does not mean you qualify.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Aged 19-64 years
- Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes with current HbA1c 5.7-9.0%
- Completing \<150 minutes of moderate-vigorous physical activity per week.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Chronic musculoskeletal condition or recent (within 2 years) cardiovascular event preventing participation in exercise.
- Unstable type 2 diabetes medication of the last 3 months
- Absolute contraindications to BFR (i.e., peripheral vascular disease)
- A self-reported diagnosis of low iron concentrations, anemia, or being treated for these conditions
- A diagnosis of any red blood cell-altering condition (i.e., sickle cell anemia, poikilocytosis)
- Currently living with any cardiovascular disease, which would impact the ability to participate in exercise safely
- Currently prescribed any medication which would impact the ability to use a heart rate monitor to accurately track intensity
Treatment, groups and participation
The registry may describe treatments and study duration without a complete visit calendar. Ask the study team for the exact schedule, procedures, risks, costs and alternatives. Keep your usual care plan unless your treating clinician tells you otherwise.
- Assignment
- Random assignment
- Masking
- No masking
Treadmill walking with blood flow restriction
Treadmill walking with blood flow restriction.
Other: Exercise with BFR
Treadmill Walking
Treadmill walking.
Other: Exercise
Exercise with BFR OTHER
Participants will complete 32 minutes of treadmill walking at a speed and grade that elicit 40-50% heart rate reserve. The cuffs will be inflated based on each participants individualized limb occlusion pressure (LOP). The cuffs will remain inflated for the entire session but will deflate for 1 minute every 10 minutes based on safety recommendations. The percentage of LOP will 60%.
Exercise OTHER
Participants will complete 32 minutes of treadmill walking at a speed and grade that elicit 40-50% heart rate reserve.
What researchers are measuring
Outcome measures describe what is being studied. They are not proof that a treatment works.
Primary measures
Change in white blood cell count before, during, and after exercise.
Time frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
The white blood cell count will be measured using a hematology analyzer before, during, and after exercise.
Secondary measures
Change in monocyte count before, during, and after exercise
Time frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
The monocyte count will be measured using a hematology analyzer before, during, and after exercise.
Change in neutrophil count before, during, and after exercise
Time frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
The neutrophil count will be measured using a hematology analyzer before, during, and after exercise.
Change in eosinophil count before, during, and after exercise
Time frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
The eosinophil count will be measured using a hematology analyzer before, during, and after exercise.
Change in CD66b+ expression before, during, and after exercise
Time frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
The CD66b+ expression will be measured using flow cytometry before, during, and after exercise.
Change in CD11b+ expression before, during, and after exercise
Time frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
The CD11b+ expression will be measured using flow cytometer before, during, and after exercise
Change in CD63+ expression before, during, and after exercise
Time frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
The CD63+ expression will be measured using flow cytometry before, during, and after exercise.
Change in % of classical monocytes before, during, and after exercise
Time frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
The % of classical monocytes will be measured using flow cytometry before, during, and after exercise.
Change in % of intermediate monocytes before, during, and after exercise
Time frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
The % of intermediate monocytes will be measured using flow cytometry before, during, and after exercise.
Change in % of non-classical monocytes before, during, and after exercise
Time frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
The % of non-classical monocytes will be measured using flow cytometry before, during, and after exercise.
Change in TLR-4 expression on classical monocytes before, during, and after exercise
Time frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
The TLR-4 expression on classical monocytes will be measured using flow cytometry before, during, and after exercise.
Change in TLR-4 expression on intermediate monocytes before, during, and after exercise
Time frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
The TLR-4 expression on intermediate monocytes will be measured using flow cytometry before, during, and after exercise.
Change in TLR-4 expression on non-classical monocytes before, during, and after exercise
Time frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
The TLR-4 expression on non-classical monocytes will be measured using flow cytometry before, during, and after exercise.
Change in plasma IL-6 before, during, and after exercise
Time frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
The plasma IL-6 concentration will be measured using a multiplex assay before, during, and after exercise
Change in plasma IL-10 before, during, and after exercise
Time frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
The plasma IL-10 concentration will be measured using a multiplex assay before, during, and after exercise.
Change in plasma TNF-α before, during, and after exercise
Time frame: Pre-exercise, during 32 minute of exercise, immediately post-exercise
The plasma TNF-α concentration will be measured using a multiplex assay before, during, and after exercise
Change in 4-h LPS-induced TNF-α before and after exercise
Time frame: Pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise
The LPS-induced TNF-α concentration will be measured from whole-blood culture supernatant using an ELISA before and after exercise.
Change in 4-h LPS+IL10-induced TNF-α before and after exercise
Time frame: Pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise
The LPS+IL10-induced TNF-α concentration will be measured from whole-blood culture supernatant using an ELISA before and after exercise.
Review the complete result tables and limitations in the official record.
Open official results ↗Research locations (1)
The overall study status and a local site’s status can differ. Confirm that location’s availability before traveling.
1 locations
University of British Columbia OkanaganKelowna, British Columbia, CanadaRecruiting
Study team and timeline
- Lead sponsor
- University of British Columbia
- Study start
- Feb 11, 2026 Actual
- Primary completion
- Dec 31, 2027 Estimated
- Study completion
- Dec 31, 2027 Estimated
- First posted
- Nov 10, 2026 Actual
- Last updated
- Nov 10, 2026 Actual
Official study contacts
Official study title
Impact of Acute Blood Flow Restriction Walking on Immune Cell Phenotype and Function in Adults withT2D
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Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Information is submitted by sponsors and investigators. NLM does not approve the safety or science of all listed studies. Registry disclaimer.
Retrieved: Nov 11, 2026 · Last registry update: Nov 10, 2026