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Glycemic control, blood lipid outcomes better with combined fitness approach
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A combination of aerobic exercise and resistance training improves glycemic control and blood lipids in patients with type 2 diabetes more than either alone, according to research published in Diabetologia.
Lukas Schwingshackl, a PhD student in the department of nutritional sciences, University of Vienna, Austria, and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials involving 915 adults with type 2 diabetes who had supervised training for at least 8 weeks.
The investigators calculated pooled effects of aerobic exercise training, resistance training and combined training using fixed- and random-effects models, both pairwise and Bayesian.
In 10 trials with 515 participants, HbA1c levels improved more with aerobic exercise training than resistance training, with a mean difference of –0.2% (95% CI, –0.32 to –0.08). Similar results were seen in eight trials with 245 participants for fasting glucose, with a mean difference of –0.9 mmol/L (95% CI, –1.71 to –0.09).
A marked reduction in HbA1c was seen with combined training compared with aerobic exercise training in nine trials with 493 participants, with a mean difference of –0.17% (95% CI, –0.31 to –0.03).
Participants also showed greater improvement with combined training than Resistance training in:
- HbA1c (mean difference, –0.62%; 95% CI, –0.95 to –0.3; n=362);
- Fasting glucose (mean difference, –1.99 mmol/L; 95% CI, –3.07 to –0.9; n=99); and
- Triacylglycerols (mean difference, –0.28 mmol/L; 95% CI, –0.46 to –0.1; n=213).
The interpretation of the findings is limited due to lack of quality of studies, lack of clinically important outcomes and limited information on adverse effects, the researchers wrote. Additionally, aerobic exercise training, resistance training and combined training may be performed more effectively without supervision, the researchers said.
“Further high-quality with long-term exercise interventions are needed to develop definitive recommendations,” they stated in a press release. “In the meantime, combined aerobic and resistance training can be recommended as part of a lifestyle program in the management of type 2 diabetes wherever possible.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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