Study on aerobic and resistance training for type 1 diabetes

Exercise is recommended for people with type 1 diabetes, but the effects of exercise on glycemic control are not yet clear. This study from Oregon Health & Science University examined the effects of different types of exercise on glycemic control in people with type 1 diabetes.

In a 3-week randomized cross-over study, 10 adults with type 1 diabetes were divided into 3 intervention groups: aerobic exercise (treadmill at 60% of maximal oxygen volume), resistance training (8 to 12 repetitions of 5 upper and lower body exercises at 60% to 80% of maximal repetition value), or no exercise (control group). During each week of training, participants performed 2 supervised 45-minute exercise sessions. For each week of the study, insulin pump data, sensor glucose data, and meal intake were analyzed using a custom smartphone treatment.

Aerobic exercise resulted in anaverage glucose reduction during exercise of 3.94 ± 2.67 mmol/L, while the reduction during resistance training was 1.33 ± 1.78 mmol/L. The average percentage of time in target range for the 24 hours after resistance training was significantly higher than during the control period, but not after aerobic exercise (60%).

The results indicate that resistance training can improve glycemic control in individuals with type 1 diabetes when various confounding factors are taken into account.