Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Randomized Controlled Trial to Study the Acute Effects of Strength Exercise on Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Adults
Published on: December 1, 2023
Effects of resistance training on metabolic profile of adults with type 2 diabetes
Ekta Arora1, Shweta Shenoy, J S Sandhu
1Department of Sports Medicine & Physiotherapy, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India.
Background & Objective:
The number of diabetes in India is increasing at an alarming rate. The effects of physical activity in the form of resistance training or aerobic exercises on type 2 diabetes have not been studied in Indian population. The objective of this study was to analyse the effects of eight weeks of progressive resistance training (PRT) compared with aerobic exercise (AE) on glycaemic control, metabolic profile, cardiovascular fitness parameters and general well being in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Methods:
Thirty adults (14 females and 16 males mean; age 53.8 +/- 8.8 yr) with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to 8 wk supervised PRT (n=10) or AE (n=10) or control group (n=10). Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profile, blood pressure, heart rate, body mass index (BMI) and general well being were measured before training (i.e. 0 wk) and after 8 wk of training period.
Results:
Plasma glycosylated haemoglobin levels decreased significantly (P<0.05) both in the PRT group (7.57 +/- 2.4% to 6.23 +/- 0.8%) and in AE group (8.11+/-0.9% to 6.66 +/- 0.9%).Total cholesterol levels decreased significantly (P<0.05) by 13.3 per cent in PRT group and by 6.1 per cent in AE group. Both exercise groups showed significantly reduction in systolic blood pressure (P<0.05). General well being improvement was much more in PRT (8.6%) as compared to AE group (2.7%).
Interpretation & Conclusion:
Our findings showed that both PRT and AE were effective in improving metabolic profile of adults with type 2 diabetes but the percentage improvement in triglycerides, total cholesterol levels and general well being with PRT was more compared to AE. Further studies on a larger sample need to be done to confirm these findings.
Related Concept Videos
Carbohydrate Metabolism
Starch accounts for approximately 60% of the carbohydrates consumed by humans. Since amylase enzymes cannot function in the stomach's acidic environment, starch can only be digested in the mouth and small intestine. Simple sugars are found naturally in milk and fruits in the...
Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology
Type II Diabetes I: Introduction
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications
Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...

