Effects of resistance training on insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cells function in male patients with type 2 diabetes

Introduction: Physical activity improves the regulation of glucose homeostasis in both type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients and healthy individuals, but the effect on pancreatic β cell function is unknown. The aim of present study was to examine the effect of 8 weeks resistance training on pancreatic β-cells function and insulin resistance in male patients with T2D. Material & Methods: Seventeen obese/overweight men (age: 53.1 ± 11.0 years and BMI: 27.0 ± 2.8 Kg/m2 mean± SD) with T2D participated as the subject. The subjects were randomly assign to control group (n=8) or the resistance training group (n=9). Subjects executed six resistance exercises selected to stress the major muscle groups in the following order: chest press, shoulder press, latissimus pull down, leg extension, leg curls and leg press. Resistance training consisted of 40-50 min of station weight training per day, 3 days a week, for 8 weeks. This training was performed in 6 stations and included 3 sets with 8-10 maximal repetitions at 70-80% of 1-RM in each station. Results: The data indicated that fasting glucose (from 162.5 ± 27.8 to 116.7 ± 34.9 mg/dl; P=0.04), fasting insulin (from 6.6 ± 1.2 to 4.8 ± 1.6 IU/ml; P=0.03) and insulin resistance index (from 2.6 ± 0.7 to 1.4 ± 0.4; P=0.03) were decrease and pancreatic β-cells function (from 25.4 ± 7.8 to 42.6 ± 20.6; P=0.04) was increased significantly in the training group compare to the control group. Conclusion: In summary, it seems that resistance training utilized in this study improves pancreatic β-cells function and insulin resistance in male patients with T2D.

Keywords:

Resistance training , Diabetes , Hyperglycemia , Insulin resistance