Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the patients

Sex (men/women)

73 (57%)/54 (43%)

Age (years)

67.0 (59.8-73.8)

Diabetes duration (years)

3 (2-8)

School education (basic/further)

39 (31%)/88 (69%)

Marital status (single/cohabiting)

29 (23%)/98 (77%)

VO_2max (ml kg^-1 min^-1)

19.0 (17.0-22.5)

Arm curl test (times per 30 sec)

17 (14-19)

Chair stand test (times per 30 sec)

14 (12-17)

Haemoglobin A_1c (%)

6.8 (6.4-7.5)

HDL-cholesterol (mmol/l)

1.3 (1.1-1.5)

Total cholesterol (mmol/l)

5.0 (4.2-5.6)

LDL-cholesterol (mmol/l)

2.7 (2.2-3.3)

Fasting triglycerides (mmol/l)

1.5 (1.1-2.3)

Waist circumference (cm, men)

105 (101-115)

Waist circumference (cm, women)

99 (92-107)

Body mass index (kg/m²)

29.6 (26.3-33.3)

Systolic pressure (mmHg)

140 (130-150)

Diastolic pressure (mmHg)

80 (75-85)

Fasting plasma glucose (mmol/l)

7.7 (6.8-9.1)

Antihypertensive medication (N/Y)

36 (28%)/91 (72%)

Antidiabetic treatment (diet/oral agents/insulin)

37 (29%)/70 (55%)/20 (16%)

Statin treatment (N/Y)

49 (39%)/78 (61%)

Smoking (N/Y)

99 (78%)/28 (22%)

Albumin/creatinine ratio (≤ 3.5/> 3.5)

97 (76%)/30 (24%)

Cardiovascular disease^a (N/Y)

61 (48%)/66 (52%)

Pain with function limitation^b (N/Y)

53 (42%)/74 (58%)