RESISTANCE TRAINING IMPROVES THE METABOLIC PROFILE IN INDIVIDUALS WITH TYPE-2 DIABETES

Aerobic endurance exercise has traditionally been advocated in the tre atment of type 2 diabetes, while the potential role of resistance trai ning has often been overlooked. The aim of the present study was to de termine the effect of circuit-type resistance training on blood pressu re, lipids and long-term glycaemic control (HbA(1c)) in type 2 diabeti c subjects. Thirty-eight type 2 diabetic subjects were enrolled in the study; 18 participated in a 5-month individualized progressive resist ance training programme (moderate intensity, high volume) twice a week , while the remaining 20 served as controls. The exercise group showed improvements in total cholesterol (6.0 +/- .3 vs 5.3 +/- .3 mM; P < 0 .01), low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (3.90 +/- .22 vs 3.35 +/- .21 mM; P < 0.01) and triglycerides (1.91 +/- .25 vs 1.53 +/- .22 mM; P < 0.01). Also, the difference in the change in HbA(1c) between t he groups (0.5%) achieved statistical significance (P < 0.01). Circuit -type resistance training seems to be feasible in moderately obese, se dentary type 2 diabetic subjects and the inclusion of circuit-type res istance training in exercise training programmes for type 2 diabetic s ubjects seems appropriate.