A recent study published in the September 18 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that performing both aerobic exercise as well as resistance training had a greater impact in lowering a diabetics blood sugar than either type of exercise alone. Previous studies had concluded that both aerobic exercise and resistance training could lower ones blood sugar, while this study found the impact of performing both types of exercise to be more beneficial.

The study enrolled 251 adults from age 39 to 70 with type 2 diabetes to participate. The participants were randomly placed into one of four groups (aerobic only, resistance training only, aerobic and resistance training, or a non-exercising control group). The participants were asked to exercise three days per week for 22 weeks. The study used Hemoglobin A1c to measure the glycemic control change by each of the groups. The combined exercise group had a drop in Hemoglobin A1c of approximately one-half of a percent greater than either of the single exercise groups. This one-half percent was in addition to the lowering effects seen between the single exercise groups and the control group. This lower Hemoglobin A1c result could have been due to the fact that the combined exercise group exercised for longer than either of the single exercise participant groups. Regardless of the reason for the improvement in blood sugars, this study appears to clearly show that combining aerobic exercise with resistance training is a winning combination for lowering your blood sugars and improving your health.

How Peoplefit can help
Peoplefit Health and Fitness Center is devoted to improving the health and wellness of people in the greater Woburn community. We use our expertise to create safe and effective individualized exercise programs in order to help you reach your goals. If you would like to speak with a physical therapist about exercise and its effects on any health related condition, please contact us.