> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foodconsumer.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Aerobic, resistance training together help diabetics - URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/aerobic_resistance_training_diabetics_2311100753/ - Published: 2010-11-24T08:52:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-22T16:07:39.000Z - Description: In the HART-D trial of 262 sedentary adults with type 2 diabetes, only those doing both aerobic exercise and resistance training over nine months saw a significant change in HbA1c. Neither form of training on its own produced one. - Author: Food Consumer - Tags: Lifestyle, Health News, Physical Exercise, Diabetes, Resistance Training, Aerobic Exercise, #vivvo-import Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who performed both aerobic exercise and resistance training improved their blood sugar levels, compared to those who did not exercise. The study published in the Nov 24, 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association showed the benefit came only when the diabetic patients engaged in both aerobic exercise and resistance training. Exercise has been found to benefit diabetes patients. But it remains unknown what type of exercise would be beneficial. In the so called HART-D trial, Timothy S. Church, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., of Louisiana State University System, Baton Rouge, La., and colleagues evaluated the effect of aerobic training, resistance training and a combination of both on homoglobin A1C levels in 262 sedentary women and men with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Hemoglobin A1C or HbA1c is involved in carrying oxygen and blood sugar and is one of the most reliable biomarkers used to monitor the control of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The participants at the average age of 56 years had an average HbA1c level of 7.7 percent and an average duration of 7.1 years of diabetes. All subjects participated in a 9-month physical exercise program between April 2007 and Aug 2009\. Of the participants, 41 were assigned to the non-exercise group, 73 to resistance training sessions, 72 to aerobic exercise sessions and 76 to combined aerobic and resistance training. Only the combination of aerobic exercise and the resistance training resulted in a significant 34 percent change in HbA1c while either the resistance training nor the aerobic exercise alone caused a significant change. The researchers also observed that the number of people taking hypoglycemic medications increased by 39 percent in the controls, compared to 32 percent in the resistance training, 22 percent in the aerobic exercise group, but only 18 percent in the combination training groups. "Only the combination exercise group improved maximum oxygen consumption compared with the control group. All exercise groups reduced waist circumference from \[-.75 to -1.1 inches\] compared with the control group," the authors wrote. The combination training group lost an average of 3.7 pounds of fat mass whereas the resistance training group had a loss of 3.1 lbs of fat mass, compared to the control group. "The primary finding from this randomized, controlled exercise trial involving individuals with type 2 diabetes is that although both resistance and aerobic training provide benefits, only the combination of the 2 were associated with reductions in HbA1c levels," the researchers write. "It also is important to appreciate that the follow-up difference in HbA1c between the combination training group and the control group occurred even though the control group had increased its use of diabetes medications while the combination training group decreased its diabetes medication uses," the authors wrote. Ronald J. Sigal, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and Glen P. Kenny, Ph.D., and Dr. Sigal of the University of Ottawa and Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, wrote in an accompanying editorial that "Based on the results of the HART-D trial, patients with type 2 diabetes who wish to maximize the effects of exercise on their glycemic control should perform both aerobic and resistance exercise. American College of Sports Medicine and the American Diabetes Association issued a joint statement in the Dec 2010 issue of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise to encourage type 2 diabetes mellitus patients to participate in aerobic exercise and resistance training. Physical exercise, according to the statement, can not only help improve blood sugar control and prevent or delay type 2 diabetes mellitus, but also positively affect lipids, blood pressure, cardiovascular events, mortality, and quality of life. The statement goes on to say structured interventions combing physical exercise and modest weight loss can help reduce the type 2 diabetes mellitus by up to 58 percent in high risk populations. The medical organizations recognize that "Most benefits of PA on diabetes management are realized through acute and chronic improvements in insulin action, accomplished with both aerobic and resistance training." Diabetes affects at least 21 million Americans, according to National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. The American College of Sports Medicine defines aerobic exercise as "any activity that uses large muscle groups, can be maintained continuously, and is rhythmic in nature." Aerobic exercise includes aerobic dance, bicycling, cross country skiing, in-line skating, fitness walking, jumping rope,running, stair climbing, and swimming. Resistance training refers to any exercise that causes the muscles to contrast against an external resistance and is expected to increase strength, tone, mass and or endurance. A health observer suggested one should not rely on exercise only to reduce risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus mellitus or manage the disease. A person's diet has an great impact the risk. Studies have suggested that turmeric, green leafy vegetables, breastfeeding, soy foods, Mediterranean diet, plant-based diet, psyllium fiber supplements, wheat bran, vitamin D, black tea among other things may help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus or help patients with the disease. David Liu