Effects of Aerobic Training, Resistance Training, or Both on Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes

A Randomized Trial

  1. Ronald J. Sigal, MD, MPH;
  2. Glen P. Kenny, PhD;
  3. Normand G. Boulé, PhD;
  4. George A. Wells, PhD;
  5. Denis Prud'homme, MD, MSc;
  6. Michelle Fortier, PhD;
  7. Robert D. Reid, PhD, MBA;
  8. Heather Tulloch, MSc;
  9. Douglas Coyle, PhD;
  10. Penny Phillips, MA;
  11. Alison Jennings, MA; and
  12. James Jaffey, MSc
  1. From the University of Ottawa, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Health Research Institute, and Prevention and Rehabilitation Centre, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

    Abstract

    Background: Previous trials have evaluated the effects of aerobic training alone and of resistance training alone on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes, as assessed by hemoglobin A1c values. However, none could assess incremental effects of combined aerobic and resistance training compared with either type of exercise alone.

    Objective: To determine the effects of aerobic training alone, resistance training alone, and combined exercise training on hemoglobin A1c values in patients with type 2 diabetes.

    Design: Randomized, controlled trial.

    Setting: 8 community-based facilities.

    Patients: 251 adults age 39 to 70 years with type 2 diabetes. A negative result on a stress test or clearance by a cardiologist, and adherence to exercise during a 4-week run-in period, were required before randomization.

    Interventions: Aerobic training, resistance training, or both types of exercise (combined exercise training). A sedentary control group was included. Exercise training was performed 3 times weekly for 22 weeks (weeks 5 to 26 of the study).

    Measurements: The primary outcome was the change in hemoglobin A1c value at 6 months. Secondary outcomes were changes in body composition, plasma lipid values, and blood pressure.

    Results: The absolute change in the hemoglobin A1c value in the combined exercise training group compared with the control group was −0.51 percentage point (95% CI, −0.87 to −0.14) in the aerobic training group and −0.38 percentage point (CI, −0.72 to −0.22) in the resistance training group. Combined exercise training resulted in an additional change in the hemoglobin A1c value of −0.46 percentage point (CI, −0.83 to −0.09) compared with aerobic training alone and −0.59 percentage point (CI, −0.95 to −0.23) compared with resistance training alone. Changes in blood pressure and lipid values did not statistically significantly differ among groups. Adverse events were more common in the exercise groups.

    Limitations: The generalizability of the results to patients who are less adherent to exercise programs is uncertain. The participants were not blinded, and the total duration of exercise was greater in the combined exercise training group than in the aerobic and resistance training groups.

    Conclusion: Either aerobic or resistance training alone improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetes, but the improvements are greatest with combined aerobic and resistance training.

    ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT00195884.

    Article and Author Information

    • Acknowledgments: The authors thank the DARE study participants; Diana Pepin, Kim Fetch, Rikst Attema, Katherine Dittmann, Kelley Phillips, Paul Healey, Karen Holland, Jane Murrin, Natalie McInnis, Jason Fetch, and Tina Leech, students in the School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa; and the Ottawa-Carleton Regional YMCA/YWCA and Nautilus Plus of Gatineau, Québec, Canada, for their contributions to study coordination, exercise training, and evaluation of study participants.

    • Grant Support: The DARE trial was supported by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (grant MCT-44155) and the Canadian Diabetes Association (The Lillian Hollefriend Grant). Dr. Sigal was supported by a New Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Ottawa Health Research Institute Lifestyle Research Chair. Dr. Kenny was supported by a Career Scientist Award from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. Dr. Boulé was supported by a Postgraduate Scholarship from the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Dr. Reid was supported by a New Investigator Award from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Ms. Tulloch was supported by a Doctoral Research Award from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Ms. Jennings was supported by an Ontario Graduate Scholarship.

    • Potential Financial Conflicts of Interest: None disclosed.

    • Requests for Single Reprints: Ronald J. Sigal, MD, MPH, University of Calgary, 7th Floor, North Tower, Foothills Medical Center, 1403 29 Street NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 2T9, Canada; e-mail, rsigal{at}ucalgary.ca.

    • Current Author Addresses: Dr. Sigal: University of Calgary, 7th Floor, North Tower, Foothills Medical Center, 1403 29 Street NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 2T9, Canada.

    • Dr. Kenny: University of Ottawa, Laboratory of Human Bioenergetics and Environmental Physiology, Montpetit Hall, 125 University Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada.

    • Dr. Boulé: Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, P420, Van Vliet Centre, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H9, Canada.

    • Dr. Wells: University of Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin Street, Room H1-1, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4W7, Canada.

    • Dr. Prud'homme: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada.

    • Dr. Fortier: School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Montpetit Hall, 125 University Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada.

    • Dr. Reid and Ms. Tulloch: Prevention and Rehabilitation Centre, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4W7, Canada.

    • Dr. Coyle: Faculty of Health Sciences, RGN 323, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada.

    • Ms. Phillips: Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Health Research Institute, 1967 Riverside Drive, 4th Floor (Diabetes Research), Ottawa, Ontario K1H 7W9, Canada.

    • Ms. Jennings and Mr. Jaffey: Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Health Research Institute, 1053 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4E9, Canada.

    • Author Contributions: Conception and design: R.J. Sigal, G.P. Kenny, N.G. Boulé, G.A. Wells, Denis Prud'homme, M. Fortier, R.D. Reid, D. Coyle.

    • Analysis and interpretation of the data: R.J. Sigal, G.P. Kenny, N.G. Boulé, G.A. Wells, Denis Prud'homme, M. Fortier, R.D. Reid, H. Tulloch, D. Coyle, J. Jaffey.

    • Drafting of the article: R.J. Sigal, G.P. Kenny.

    • Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content: R.J. Sigal, G.P. Kenny, N.G. Boulé, G.A. Wells, Denis Prud'homme, M. Fortier, R.D. Reid, H. Tulloch, D. Coyle, A. Jennings.

    • Final approval of the article: R.J. Sigal, G.P. Kenny, N.G. Boulé, Denis Prud'homme, M. Fortier, H. Tulloch, D. Coyle.

    • Provision of study materials or patients: R.J. Sigal, G.P. Kenny, R.D. Reid.

    • Statistical expertise: G.A. Wells, J. Jaffey.

    • Obtaining of funding: R.J. Sigal, G.P. Kenny, G.A. Wells, Denis Prud'homme, M. Fortier., R.D. Reid, D. Coyle

    • Administrative, technical, or logistic support: G.P. Kenny, P. Phillips, A. Jennings.

    • Collection and assembly of data: G.P. Kenny, N.G. Boulé, H. Tulloch, P. Phillips, A. Jennings.

    Responses to this article

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