Ebaa Al Ozairi, Dalal Alsaeed, Dherar Al Roudhan, Mohammed Jalali, Anant Mashankar, Dennis Taliping, Amal Abdulla, Jason M R Gill, Naveed Sattar, Paul Welsh, Stuart R Gray
Journal: Diabetes/metabolism research and reviews 2023;39(7):e3677
PMID: 37330638
Diabetes affects millions of adults worldwide, with type 2 diabetes being the most common form. People with type 2 diabetes have a 2‐ to 3‐fold higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Physical activity and exercise, alongside dietary intervention, are the key to type 2 diabetes treatment, and meta‐analyses demonstrate that both aerobic and resistance exercise training can reduce glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). This study’s aim was to evaluate the impact of pragmatic home-based resistance exercise training on HbA1c, muscle strength, and body composition in individuals with type 2 diabetes. This study was a two-arm randomised controlled trial with participants randomised (1:1) to usual care or usual care + home‐based resistance exercise. Results showed that - there was not a significant effect on HbA1c. - the intervention group showed increased push-up performance, arm and leg lean mass, and reduced liver fat. - the home-based resistance exercise may help maintain muscle mass and function and reduce liver fat in type 2 diabetes. Authors conclude that their findings indicate the benefit of such a pragmatic intervention for preventing or treating sarcopenia, which is accelerated in people with type 2 diabetes. However, further work is necessary.
AIMS
To evaluate the effects of pragmatic home-based resistance exercise training on glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) as well as muscle strength and body composition in people with type 2 diabetes.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
People with type 2 diabetes were randomized (1:1) to usual care or usual care plus home-based resistance exercise for 32 weeks. The changes in HbA1c, body composition, physical function, quality of life, continuous glucose monitoring and liver fat were compared by randomized group using linear regression.
RESULTS
This study recruited 120 participants (female: n = 46 [38%], age 60.2 (9.4) years, BMI 31.1 (5.4) kg.m ), 64 to intervention and 56 to usual care. Intention to treat analysis revealed no effect on HbA1c (difference in difference: -0.4 mmol/mol, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -3.26, 2.47; p = 0.78) but the intervention increased the number of push-ups (3.6 push-ups, 95% CI: 0.8, 6.4), arm lean mass (116 g, 95% CI: 6, 227) and leg lean mass (438 g, 95% CI 65, 810) and decreased liver fat (-1.27%, 95% CI -2.17, -0.38), with no differences in other outcomes. Per-protocol analysis revealed similar results.
CONCLUSIONS
Home-based resistance exercise is unlikely to lower HbA1c in people with type 2 diabetes but may be of benefit for maintaining muscle mass and function and reducing liver fat.
© 2023 The Authors. Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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