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Combination Training Benefits Diabetics

A University of Calgary diabetes specialist has found that aerobic or weight training improves blood sugar levels for people with diabetes, and that the improvements are twice as good with combined aerobic and weight training. U of C endocrinologist Dr. Ron Sigal and colleagues from the University of Ottawa have published findings of the largest clinical study of its kind on the effectiveness of aerobic exercise and weight training in the September 18 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

"Our study demonstrates that people with Type 2 diabetes who want to maximize their glucose control and reduce their risk of long-term complications, should consider a combination of both aerobic and resistance training like weight lifting," said Sigal, an associate professor in the faculties of medicine and kinesiology.

A total of 251 people with Type 2 diabetes participated in the 6-month randomized control trial in Ottawa. They were divided into groups that did aerobic exercise only (walking, cycling or jogging), resistance exercise only (weight lifting), both aerobic and resistance exercise, and a control group that did not exercise.

Each participant was evaluated on changes in A1c value, a number that reflects blood sugar concentrations over the previous 2 or 3 months. The combined aerobic and weight training group experienced a 0.97 percent absolute drop in A1c value compared to the non-exercising group. The aerobic training group experienced a smaller but still significant absolute drop of about 0.5 percent and the weight training group saw an absolute drop of about 0.5 percent as well.

"The improvements we found might seem small, but they are clinically significant," said Sigal. "A one-percent drop in A1c levels reduces the risk of a major cardiovascular event such as stroke or heart attack by 15 to 20 percent and blindness, kidney failure, or amputations by 25 to 40 percent. People with diabetes fight an uphill battle trying to control their blood sugar, so any help we can offer is vital."

Note:  The BodyPump classes offered at the Bob Burger Recreation Center offer a great option for resistance training.  Click here to find out more about BodyPump.

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