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Murray State Professor Takes 'Active Steps' in Diabetes and HIV Research

We continue a series of reports called Racer Scholar Profiles, highlighting Murray State Faculty research, scholarly and creative activities across college and schools. Our fourth guest is Dr. Jason Jaggers, Assistant Professor, Applied Health Sciences in the School of Nursing and Health Professions, who studies exercise concepts in special populations, including those with diabetes and HIV. Kate Lochte speaks with Dr. Jaggers on Sounds Good about his research.

Dr. Jason Jaggers teaches primarily upper level exercise science courses and research, a design and statistics course and has a research focus on special clinical populations. His work on "Active Steps for Diabetes" was developed through a partnership with colleagues at Murray State and the Murray Calloway County Hospital.

Last year, they conducted eight-week sessions with type 2 diabetics, where they'd come in twice a week to take exercise and education classes. Through a collaboration with the nutrition program, they learned the benefits of healthy eating and making proper dietary choices. Dr. Jaggers says when people get diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, they typically get information, but not the hands-on approach where they are not just changing their lifestyle behaviors, but engaging in exercise, too.

The program is adapted from a similar program at Bellarmine University in Louisville, but he says they are still learning and adapting the process based on the local population and the unique needs of the individuals. A 35 year-old diabetic will have different needs than a 62 year-old diabetic, he says.

While studying his masters at the University of Louisville, Dr. Jaggers noticed a gap in literature in research regarding clinical populations and exercise. He also noticed that there wasn't much being done for HIV patients and metabolic disturbances in general. There's still a lot more we have to learn about the benefits of physical activity and lifestyle management, he says. He's hoping to expand the HIV research with a partnership with Heartland Cares in Paducah, creating a program similar to Active Steps for Diabetes, but tailored to the local HIV population.

The potential impact can go beyond the patients themselves, he says, by adopting a community-based behavior modification approach. We know physical activity is beneficial for all populations, he says, and getting people to change lifestyles and be more healthy in general can have a positive impact.

Undergraduate students are encouraged to participate in the Active Steps program. Students have helped set it up, help patients check their blood pressure and glucose levels, and conduct the classes themselves. Dietetic students in the nutrition program have led education classes for the dietary components.

Matt Markgraf joined the WKMS team as a student in January 2007. He's served in a variety of roles over the years: as News Director March 2016-September 2019 and previously as the New Media & Promotions Coordinator beginning in 2011. Prior to that, he was a graduate and undergraduate assistant. He is currently the host of the international music show Imported on Sunday nights at 10 p.m.
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