Resistance Training for Type 2 Diabetes

Overseen By Gabriel Palley, 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

48 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

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 that increase the risk of tendon issues in the last 6 months. If you are taking metformin, you must have been on it for at least 3 months.

What data supports the effectiveness of this treatment for Type 2 Diabetes?

Research shows that progressive resistance training (PRT) can improve blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity in older adults with type 2 diabetes. It also helps increase muscle strength and mass, which can be beneficial for managing diabetes and related health issues. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is resistance training safe for people with type 2 diabetes?

Resistance training, including high-intensity and progressive resistance training, is generally safe for people with type 2 diabetes and other conditions. It is well accepted even in complex patient populations, such as elderly individuals and those with cardiovascular disease, with only one study reporting a minor adverse event (muscle injury). ^{2 6 7 8 9}

How is resistance training different from other treatments for type 2 diabetes?

Resistance training, especially high-effort or progressive resistance training, is unique because it improves insulin sensitivity and glycemic control while also increasing muscle mass and strength. Unlike aerobic exercise, which can be challenging for older adults with type 2 diabetes due to age and other health issues, resistance training is a feasible and effective alternative that also benefits bone density, mobility, and mental health. ^{2 4 5 8 10}

What is the purpose of this trial?

In this study the primary aims are to investigate the effect of resistance exercise training with different degrees of effort on glycemic control and psychological variables in individuals living with type 2 diabetes mellitus. As a secondary aim, investigate adherence and dropout rates and reasons for dropping out and adhering or not to the protocols.

Research Team

Flavio De Castro Magalhaes, PhD

Principal Investigator

Assistant Professor

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals with type 2 diabetes who are interested in how different levels of effort during resistance exercise training can affect their blood sugar control and mental well-being. Details on specific inclusion or exclusion criteria were not provided.

Inclusion Criteria

I have type 2 diabetes.

Exclusion Criteria

Have a significant cognitive impairment

I need someone legally authorized to make decisions for me.

I have inflammation of the heart muscle, lining, or outer covering.

Timeline

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 assess 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

Treatment Details

Interventions

• High-effort resistance exercise training
• Low-effort resistance exercise training

Trial Overview The study compares the effects of high-effort versus low-effort resistance exercise training on managing blood sugar levels and improving mood in people with type 2 diabetes. It also looks at how likely participants are to stick with these exercise programs.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

A 16-week study involving 62 Latino older adults with type 2 diabetes showed that high-intensity progressive resistance training (PRT) significantly improved glycemic control, reducing hemoglobin A1c levels from 8.7% to 7.6%.

Participants in the PRT group also experienced increased muscle glycogen stores and a reduction in diabetes medication for 72% of them, while control subjects showed no improvement and even required more medication.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized controlled trial of resistance exercise training to improve glycemic control in older adults with type 2 diabetes. Castaneda, C., Layne, JE., Munoz-Orians, L., et al.[2022]

Progressive resistance training (PRT) is a safe and effective alternative to aerobic exercise for improving insulin sensitivity and glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients, especially those who are elderly or have comorbid conditions.

PRT not only enhances muscle mass and strength but also positively impacts various health aspects, including bone density, mental health, and overall mobility, making it a comprehensive approach to managing diabetes in complex patient populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Battling insulin resistance in elderly obese people with type 2 diabetes: bring on the heavy weights. Willey, KA., Singh, MA.[2019]

The PReTTy2 trial, involving 300 elderly patients with Type 2 Diabetes, demonstrated that Progressive Resistance Training (PRT) using the bioDensity™ technique is safe and feasible, with no adverse events reported during the study.

While overall HbA1c levels did not show significant changes, patients with higher baseline HbA1c levels (>7.5%) experienced significant improvements in glycemic control and lipid profiles after 6 months of PRT, indicating its effectiveness as an adjunct therapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The impact on glycemic control through progressive resistance training with bioDensityTM in Chinese elderly patients with type 2 diabetes: The PReTTy2 (Progressive Resistance Training in Type 2 Diabetes) Trial. Hangping, Z., Xiaona, Q., Qi, Z., et al.[2022]

A 12-month study involving 103 older adults with type 2 diabetes showed that power training (high-velocity, high-intensity resistance training) can effectively improve glycemic control, as indicated by changes in HbA1c levels.

The study demonstrated that power training is a feasible and safe exercise modality for older adults, with a low dropout rate of only 14% over the intervention period, suggesting good adherence and potential for long-term benefits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Graded Resistance Exercise And Type 2 Diabetes in Older adults (The GREAT2DO study): methods and baseline cohort characteristics of a randomized controlled trial. Simpson, KA., Mavros, Y., Kay, S., et al.[2022]

In a study of 32 patients with type 2 diabetes, both hypertrophy resistance training (HRT) and endurance resistance training (ERT) led to significant improvements in glycaemic control, muscle mass, and physical capacity after eight weeks, but neither was superior in these areas.

HRT resulted in significantly greater increases in maximum strength of the chest muscles compared to ERT, indicating that while strength gains can differ, both training types are effective for overall health improvements in diabetes management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Different types of resistance training in type 2 diabetes mellitus: effects on glycaemic control, muscle mass and strength. Egger, A., Niederseer, D., Diem, G., 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]

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]

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]

A systematic review of 36 randomized controlled trials with 1491 participants found that resistance training significantly improved key health markers in type 2 diabetes patients, including reductions in HbA1c, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, and systolic blood pressure.

High intensity resistance training was shown to be more effective than medium-low intensity training in improving several health indicators, suggesting it may be a better option for managing type 2 diabetes, with only one reported adverse event (a skeletal muscle injury) associated with the training.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Intensity Differences of Resistance Training for Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Fan, T., Lin, MH., Kim, K.[2023]

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]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized controlled trial of resistance exercise training to improve glycemic control in older adults with type 2 diabetes. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Battling insulin resistance in elderly obese people with type 2 diabetes: bring on the heavy weights. [2019]

3. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The impact on glycemic control through progressive resistance training with bioDensityTM in Chinese elderly patients with type 2 diabetes: The PReTTy2 (Progressive Resistance Training in Type 2 Diabetes) Trial. [2022]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Graded Resistance Exercise And Type 2 Diabetes in Older adults (The GREAT2DO study): methods and baseline cohort characteristics of a randomized controlled trial. [2022]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Different types of resistance training in type 2 diabetes mellitus: effects on glycaemic control, muscle mass and strength. [2022]

6. Switzerland 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. [2021]

7. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Resistance training improves glycaemic control in obese type 2 diabetic men. [2022]

8. Australia pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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

9. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Intensity Differences of Resistance Training for Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. [2023]

10. New Zealand 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. [2022]