In a nutshell
This study evaluated the effectiveness of aerobic and resistance training in decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Some background
Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at an increased risk for developing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), such as heart attacks and strokes. Cardiovascular diseases develop due to many factors also associated with T2DM, such as high cholesterol levels, high blood glucose levels and hypertension (high blood pressure). Cardiorespiratory fitness, or CRF (how well the body handles exercise and can continue supplying adequate amounts of oxygen to the tissues), is an accurate indicator of CVD risk and a proven predictor of survival in diabetic patients.
Both aerobic exercise, such as jogging, and resistance training, such as repetitive strength exercises (for example weight lifting and bench presses) are known to improve many of the risk factors involved in the development of CVDs. However, the impact of aerobic and resistance training on CRF and the direct effect on the risk of CVDs is not yet fully understood.
Methods & findings
262 patients with T2DM and low CRF (at an increased risk for CVDs) were randomly assigned to four groups: an aerobics training group (AT); a resistance training group (RT); a combined aerobics and resistance training group (ATRT); and a control group that did not perform any exercise. CRF was measured again after 9 months of training.
Both AT and ATRT were effective at improving CRF in T2DM patients. Patients with the highest risk of CVD at the beginning of the study improved CRF by 21.6% following AT, and by 14.3% following ATRT. In contrast, CRF was only improved by 1.8% following RT alone. In patient not performing any exercise CRF decreased by an average of 9.1%.
The bottom line
This study concluded that aerobic training, alone or combined with resistance training, is the most effective at increasing the cardiorespiratory fitness of T2DM patients.
What’s next?
Consult with your physician regarding the importance of regular exercise and training programs in the management of diabetes.
Published By :
Diabetes Care
Date :
Jul 22, 2013
