Effective exercise modality to reduce insulin resistance in women with type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a combined resistance and aerobic training program would improve insulin sensitivity compared with aerobic training alone in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes. A second objective was to relate the improved insulin sensitivity to changes in abdominal adipose tissue (AT) and thigh muscle density.


METHODS
A total of 28 obese postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to one of three 16-week treatments: control, aerobic only training (Ae only), or aerobic plus resistance training (Ae+RT). Pre- and posttreatment outcome measures included glucose disposal by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp and computed tomography scans of abdominal AT and mid-thigh skeletal muscle.


RESULTS
Glucose infusion rates increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the Ae+RT group. Both exercise groups had reduced abdominal subcutaneous and visceral AT and increased muscle density. The Ae+RT training group exhibited a significantly greater increase in muscle density than the Ae only group. Improved glucose disposal was independently associated with changes in subcutaneous AT, visceral AT, and muscle density. Muscle density retained a relationship with glucose disposal after controlling for abdominal AT.


CONCLUSIONS
Adding resistance training to aerobic training enhanced glucose disposal in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes. The improved insulin sensitivity is related to loss of abdominal subcutaneous and visceral AT and to increased muscle density.
Cuff
Darcye J
DJ
St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. dcuff@providencehealth.bc.ca
Meneilly
Graydon S
GS
Martin
Alan
A
Ignaszewski
Andrew
A
Tildesley
Hugh D
HD
Frohlich
Jiri J
JJ
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001823:Body Composition; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010809:Physical Fitness; D017698:Postmenopause; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D001786:Blood Glucose