Effects of home-based resistance exercise on body composition, muscle strength and glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes
It has been shown in a recent meta-analysis that resistance exercise training can result in a significant decrease in HbA1c, indicative of an improvement in glycaemic control, in people with type 2 diabetes. Reductions in blood pressure and improvements in body composition and blood lipids have also been reported. However, very few people perform resistance exercise, with a dislike of the gym environment, not knowing how to perform the exercises properly and safely, and having to travel to the gym being some of the barriers reported. It is possible to recreate these gym-based exercise in the home, but whether such exercise can be efficacious in reducing HbA1c remains to be established. The aim of the current study, therefore, is to determine the effect of a home-based resistance exercise program on muscle strength, body composition, and glycaemic control. In collaboration with our colleagues at the University of Glasgow, we are recruiting people with type 2 diabetes and randomly assigning them to a control group or a home-based resistance exercise group for 32 weeks. We are measuring body composition, blood lipids, HbA1c, muscle strength and functional abilities at baseline and 32 weeks. In a subgroup we are also measuring liver fat and carrying out continuous blood glucose monitoring. In addition, we are conducting semi-structured qualitative interviews to understand peoples’ barriers to such exercises and how long-term adherence could be improved.
