Resistance Exercise Effort for Type 2 Diabetes

Overseen By Flavio De Castro Magalhaes, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of New Mexico

Must not be taking: Oral contraceptives

Disqualifiers: Renal failure, Liver disease, Hypertension, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how varying levels of effort in resistance exercise affect blood sugar levels in individuals with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Participants will undergo three conditions: a control day with no exercise, a high-effort exercise session, and a low-effort session (also known as low-intensity resistance exercise). Researchers aim to determine if increased effort during exercise improves blood sugar and how it influences participants' comfort and enjoyment. Individuals diagnosed with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes who can engage in resistance exercise are well-suited for this study. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the chance to contribute to valuable research that could enhance exercise guidelines for managing blood sugar.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are using oral hypoglycemic drugs, you must have been on them for at least 6 months to participate.

What prior data suggests that this exercise protocol is safe for individuals with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes?

Research shows that both high-effort and low-effort resistance exercises can be safe and beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes. Studies indicate that high-intensity exercise, akin to high-effort sessions, helps lower blood sugar levels. Participants in this type of exercise often experience improved fitness and health without major safety concerns.

Similarly, low-effort resistance training is well-tolerated. It enhances strength, lowers blood pressure, and improves overall fitness in people with type 2 diabetes. Research suggests that even with less effort, these exercises offer health benefits and are generally safe for participants.

In summary, both types of exercise are safe for most people with type 2 diabetes and provide various health benefits. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores how different levels of resistance exercise effort can impact people with Type 2 Diabetes. Unlike traditional diabetes treatments that primarily involve medication and dietary changes, this approach focuses on physical activity as a potential game-changer. The trial compares high-effort and low-effort exercise sessions, aiming to uncover whether the intensity of exercise can lead to significant improvements in managing blood sugar levels. This could provide a new, non-pharmacological option that empowers patients to take control of their health through tailored exercise routines.

What evidence suggests that this trial's exercise sessions could be effective for improving blood glucose levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes?

This trial will compare different resistance exercise efforts for managing type 2 diabetes. Research has shown that high-effort resistance exercises, which participants in one arm of this trial will perform, can better control blood sugar. Specifically, studies have found that performing as many repetitions as possible during these exercises can lower fasting blood sugar and HbA1c, a measure of long-term blood sugar levels, and may also improve overall well-being.

Participants in another arm of this trial will perform low-effort resistance exercises. Research suggests these exercises also aid in blood sugar control, though not as effectively as high-effort exercises. In general, resistance training can lower HbA1c and increase strength, even with less intensity. Both types of exercise benefit the management of type 2 diabetes. ^{1 2 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Flavio De Castro Magalhaes, PhD

Principal Investigator

Assistant Professor

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes who are interested in how different levels of effort during resistance exercise affect their blood glucose. Participants should be familiar with the exercises and able to commit to multiple sessions.

Inclusion Criteria

I have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes based on my blood sugar or A1c levels.

Exclusion Criteria

Being pregnant or trying to become pregnant during the course of the study

Prisoners

I have kidney failure.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Familiarization

Participants are familiarized with all exercises and procedures

1 week

Exercise Sessions

Participants perform three different sessions: one control day, a high-effort resistance exercise session, and a low-effort resistance exercise session

2 weeks

3 sessions, each separated by at least 4 days

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after exercise sessions

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Control
• High-effort session
• Low-effort session

Trial Overview

The study tests whether a high-effort or low-effort resistance exercise session can improve blood glucose levels compared to no exercise at all. It also examines participants' enjoyment and discomfort after exercising at different intensities.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: low-effort session Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will perform sets with half of the anticipated number of repetitions of the high-effort session.

Group II: high-effort session Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will perform sets with as many repetitions they can each set.

Group III: Control session Placebo Group 1 Intervention

The control session all procedures will be identical to the high-effort session.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of New Mexico

Lead Sponsor

Trials

393

Recruited

3,526,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A 10-week moderate intensity resistance training program for 18 obese, type 2 diabetic men led to significant reductions in fasting glucose and insulin levels, indicating improved glycaemic control.

The resistance training group also experienced a 3.5% increase in fat-free mass, while the control group saw an increase in fat mass, highlighting the positive impact of resistance training on body composition.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Resistance training improves glycaemic control in obese type 2 diabetic men. Baldi, JC., Snowling, N.[2022]

A randomized controlled trial involving 150 participants with type 2 diabetes will compare the effects of home-based and gym-based resistance exercise on reducing glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels over 32 weeks.

The study aims to demonstrate that both types of resistance training can effectively lower HbA1c, while also assessing improvements in muscle strength, body composition, and overall quality of life, making exercise more accessible for clinical practice.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Protocol for a randomised controlled trial to investigate the effect of home- and gym-based resistance exercise training on glycaemic control, body composition and muscle strength. Al Ozairi, E., Alsaeed, D., Taliping, D., et al.[2022]

Progressive resistance exercise is a safe and effective form of exercise for improving glycaemic control in people with type 2 diabetes, resulting in a small but clinically significant reduction in HbA1c levels by 0.3%.

This type of exercise significantly enhances muscle strength compared to both aerobic exercise and no exercise, making it a valuable addition to diabetes management strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Progressive resistance exercise improves glycaemic control in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review. Irvine, C., Taylor, NF.[2022]

Regular aerobic exercise is a safe and effective non-pharmacological treatment for type 2 diabetes, helping to improve metabolic risk factors and lower mortality risk, especially when not limited by other health issues.

Recent evidence suggests that resistance training may be even more effective than aerobic exercise for improving glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes, highlighting its importance in diabetes management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

May the force be with you: why resistance training is essential for subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications. Codella, R., Ialacqua, M., Terruzzi, I., et al.[2019]

In a study of 57 participants with type II diabetes, those who engaged in supervised high-intensity resistance training (HIT) showed continued improvements in body composition, blood glucose levels, and overall wellbeing over 12 months, while those who only received routine care saw their initial benefits diminish.

The findings suggest that incorporating HIT into routine diabetes management can provide sustained health benefits, including reduced waist circumference and HbA1c levels, compared to standard care alone.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of adding high-intensity of effort resistance training to routine care in persons with type II diabetes: An exploratory randomized parallel-group time-series study. Giessing, J., Eichmann, B., Kemmler, W., et al.[2022]

A 16-week home-based resistance training program significantly improved upper and lower body strength in obese individuals with type 2 diabetes, with mean strength increases of 20-37% compared to a control group.

While the resistance training did not lead to significant reductions in hemoglobin A1C levels, it did result in lower fasting insulin levels and improved self-efficacy related to exercise, indicating positive effects on overall health and motivation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Multicomponent, home-based resistance training for obese adults with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial. Plotnikoff, RC., Eves, N., Jung, M., et al.[2022]

A study involving 36 type-2 diabetic patients showed that an 8-week program of combined resistance training and home-based walking significantly improved emotional well-being and mental health compared to a control group.

The exercise intervention was safe and effective, leading to better quality of life scores, particularly in emotional role and vitality, although it did not significantly change glycemic control as measured by HbA1C compared to the control group.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of combined resistance and home-based walking exercise in type 2 diabetes patients. Aylin, K., Arzu, D., Sabri, S., et al.[2023]

In a study of 28 overweight women with type 2 diabetes, low-intensity resistance training significantly increased muscle mass and strength while reducing total and abdominal fat over a 12-week period.

Despite these positive changes in body composition and strength, the training did not lead to improvements in insulin sensitivity or cardiovascular fitness, as measured by aerobic capacity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of resistance training on muscle and body fat mass and muscle strength in type 2 diabetic women. Kwon, HR., Han, KA., Ku, YH., et al.[2022]

A 3-month resistance training program significantly increased maximal muscle strength in 11 male patients with long-term type 1 diabetes, indicating that they can adapt well to physical training.

Despite the improvement in muscle strength, there were no significant changes in serum irisin levels or metabolic control parameters like HbA1c, suggesting that while strength can improve, other metabolic factors may remain unchanged.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The influence of resistance training on muscle strength, irisin concentration, and metabolic parameters in type 1 diabetic patients. Wróbel, M., Gołaś, A., Rokicka, D., et al.[2022]

In a study involving 23 adults with type 2 diabetes, interrupting prolonged sitting with 6-minute simple resistance activities (SRAs) every 60 minutes significantly reduced post-meal glucose and insulin levels compared to sitting uninterrupted.

No significant differences were found between sitting with 3-minute SRAs every 30 minutes and uninterrupted sitting, indicating that longer bouts of activity may be more effective for managing blood sugar levels.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Frequency of Interruptions to Sitting Time: Benefits for Postprandial Metabolism in Type 2 Diabetes. Homer, AR., Taylor, FC., Dempsey, PC., et al.[2022]

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