Resistance Training for Prediabetes

Overseen By Roberto Mota Alvidrez, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of New Mexico

Must not be taking: Fluoroquinolones, Glucocorticoids, others

Disqualifiers: Cognitive impairment, Renal failure, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 32

Duration: 16 weeks

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 training (a type of exercise focused on building muscle strength) affect blood sugar control and mental health in individuals with prediabetes. Participants will engage in either high-effort workouts (3 sets of 8 repetitions) or low-effort workouts (6 sets of 4 repetitions) to determine which is more beneficial. It is ideal for those with prediabetes, where blood sugar is slightly elevated but not at diabetes levels, and who are not taking metformin or have specific health issues like severe heart problems or recent surgeries. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding the effects of exercise on prediabetes.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you cannot participate if you have been on certain medications like metformin for less than 3 months or have taken drugs that increase the risk of tendon disorders in the last 6 months.

What prior data suggests that resistance training is safe for prediabetes?

Research has shown that resistance training is generally safe and well-tolerated. Studies have found that it helps manage blood sugar levels and improves insulin use, particularly in people with type 2 diabetes. These studies reported no major negative side effects from resistance training. Instead, it proved to be an effective and safe method for diabetes prevention. This suggests that various styles of resistance training, whether high-effort or low-effort, are likely safe for most people. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about resistance training for prediabetes because it offers a non-pharmaceutical approach that may improve blood sugar control and overall health. Unlike standard treatments like lifestyle changes or medications such as metformin, this method focuses on structured physical activity. The trial is exploring different resistance training intensities—high-effort and low-effort protocols—to determine the most effective exercise strategy. This approach could empower individuals to manage prediabetes through tailored exercise routines, potentially reducing reliance on medication and enhancing long-term health outcomes.

What evidence suggests that resistance training could be effective for prediabetes?

Research has shown that resistance training effectively manages blood sugar levels, particularly in individuals with prediabetes. A review of several studies found that exercise, including resistance training, controls blood sugar better than inactivity. Other studies indicate that resistance training improves the body's sugar management and lowers HbA1c levels, an important measure of blood sugar over time. This trial will compare two resistance training protocols: a high-effort protocol and a low-effort protocol. Both exercise types aim to increase muscle strength and lean body mass, which can help prevent diabetes. Overall, resistance training offers a promising method to manage or even prevent diabetes by maintaining blood sugar levels. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals with conditions like insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, prediabetes, or altered incretin hormones due to polycystic ovary syndrome. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided.

Inclusion Criteria

Presence of prediabetes (fasting glycemia between 100 and 125 mg/dL or glycated hemoglobin (A1c) between 5.7 and 6.4%)

Exclusion Criteria

I have had an amputation of part of my leg.

I have kidney failure.

I cannot walk by myself.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo resistance exercise training with different degrees of effort to study effects on glycemic control and psychological responses

16 weeks

32 sessions (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Resistance Training

Trial Overview

The study investigates how high-effort and low-effort resistance exercise training affect blood sugar control and psychological well-being in participants.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Low-effort Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The low-effort protocol will entail performing 6 sets per exercise, 4 repetitions per set, \~2.5 seconds per repetition, with 60 seconds between sets and exercises.

Group II: High-effort Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The high-effort protocol will entail performing 3 sets per exercise, 8 repetitions per set, \~2.5 seconds per repetition, with 120 seconds between sets and exercises.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of New Mexico

Lead Sponsor

Trials

393

Recruited

3,526,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Regular weight-training can lead to positive adaptations in cardiovascular health, including decreased heart rate during maximal work and improved myocardial structure, which may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Resistance training can also enhance aerobic capacity and improve metabolic health markers like glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, although caution is advised for individuals with existing cardiovascular conditions due to potential blood pressure responses.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Health- and performance-related potential of resistance training. Stone, MH., Fleck, SJ., Triplett, NT., et al.[2022]

Resistance training (RT) significantly improves glycemic control and reduces body fat percentage and blood lipid levels in individuals at risk for type 2 diabetes, based on a systematic review of 14 trials involving 668 participants.

The study found that RT led to notable reductions in key health markers, including HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides, indicating its effectiveness in managing cardiometabolic risk factors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of Resistance Training and Associated Program Characteristics in Patients at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Qadir, R., Sculthorpe, NF., Todd, T., et al.[2021]

Resistance training, specifically hypertrophy training (HT) and muscular endurance training (MERT), significantly improves key health markers in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), including HbA1c levels, insulin sensitivity, and body composition.

Hypertrophy training showed superior benefits over muscular endurance training in improving glucose control, cardiorespiratory fitness, and lipid profiles, making it a particularly effective option for managing T2DM alongside patient preferences.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Beyond general resistance training. Hypertrophy versus muscular endurance training as therapeutic interventions in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Acosta-Manzano, P., Rodriguez-Ayllon, M., Acosta, FM., et al.[2021]

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]

Resistance training (RT) is effective for improving glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with a significant pooled effect size of -0.34% in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels based on a meta-analysis of 23 studies involving 954 patients.

Patients with T2DM who have a shorter duration of diabetes (less than 6 years) and higher baseline HbA1c levels (≥7.5%) benefit more from RT, while those with higher baseline BMI (≥32 kg/m²) see less improvement, suggesting that RT is particularly beneficial for early-stage T2DM patients with poor glycemic control.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

In Search of the Ideal Resistance Training Program to Improve Glycemic Control and its Indication for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Ishiguro, H., Kodama, S., Horikawa, C., et al.[2022]

In a study of 105 adults with prediabetes over 12 months, both resistance training and aerobic training significantly reduced visceral adipose tissue and fasting plasma glucose levels compared to a control group.

Resistance training was particularly effective in increasing muscle mass, which was not observed with aerobic training, highlighting its unique benefits for body composition in individuals with prediabetes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of 12-Month Resistance Training on Changes in Abdominal Adipose Tissue and Metabolic Variables in Patients with Prediabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Yan, J., Dai, X., Feng, J., et al.[2022]

In a study involving older adults with prediabetes, both high-load and low-load resistance training (RT) improved functional capacity compared to a control group, highlighting the benefits of RT for maintaining muscle function in this population.

High-load RT was found to be more effective than low-load RT in enhancing muscle strength and quality, suggesting that heavier resistance training may be particularly beneficial for older adults at risk of muscle functional loss.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Supervised high-load resistance training for improving muscle strength and quality in prediabetic older adults: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Tsai, SH., Cheng, HC., Liu, HW.[2022]

Resistance training significantly improved insulin sensitivity in nonobese patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), with a 48% increase in glucose disposal rate after 4-6 weeks of training.

The resistance training program also led to a 16% increase in quadriceps strength, but did not affect maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), indicating that resistance training can enhance muscle strength and metabolic health without necessarily improving cardiovascular fitness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Resistance training improves insulin sensitivity in NIDDM subjects without altering maximal oxygen uptake. Ishii, T., Yamakita, T., Sato, T., et al.[2022]

Resistance exercise training significantly benefits the musculoskeletal system and helps prevent conditions like osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and lower-back pain, making it essential for maintaining functional abilities.

Just two 15- to 20-minute sessions of resistance training per week can effectively improve various health risk factors, including insulin resistance and blood pressure, suggesting it should be a key focus in public health promotion alongside aerobic exercise.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Potential health-related benefits of resistance training. Winett, RA., Carpinelli, RN.[2022]

Resistance training (RT) can effectively help in treating obesity and reducing major cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as dyslipidaemia and type 2 diabetes, by promoting muscle mass development.

The review highlights the importance of maintaining skeletal muscle mass to mitigate metabolic disorders associated with aging and decreased physical activity, suggesting that clinicians should incorporate RT into treatment plans for obesity-related metabolic issues.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evidence for resistance training as a treatment therapy in obesity. Strasser, B., Schobersberger, W.[2021]

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]

Citations

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