[Physical exercise and insulin sensitivity].

Physical exercise is known to be essential in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. An increased glucose uptake is evidenced during acute muscular exercise, over the post-exercise period, and following physical training. In this paper, we review metabolic and molecular aspects of physical exercise. We emphasize on the non-insulin dependent glucose transport induced by muscular contraction, which involves AMP-activated protein kinase. The discovery of this pathway is likely to open new therapeutic targets for type 2 diabetes.