Resistance Exercise Versus Aerobic Exercise Combined with Metformin Therapy in the Treatment of type 2 Diabetes: A 12-Week Comparative Clinical Study

Background: Both exercise and metformin are used to control blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while no previous studies have investigated the ef-fect of resistance exercise combined with metformin versus aerobic exercise with metformin in T2DM patients. Objectives: This study was conducted to compare the effects of resistance exercise combined with metformin versus aerobic exercise with metformin in T2DM patients. Methods: A total of fifty-seven T2DM patients with a mean age of 46.2 +/- 8.3 years were ran-domized to three study groups; each group included nineteen patients. The first group conducted a resistance exercise program (REP, 50-60% of 1RM, for 40-50 min) combined with metformin, the second group conducted an aerobic exercise program (AEP, 50-70% maxHR, for 40-50 min) com-bined with metformin, and the third group received only metformin without exercise intervention (Met group). The study program was conducted thrice weekly for consecutive twelve weeks. Fast -ing blood glucose (FBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2)max) were evaluated before and after study intervention. Results: Significant differences were reported after the 12-week intervention inter-groups in the outcome variables (p<0.05). FBG, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, and VO(2)max improved significantly in the REP group (p<0.001) and also in the AEP group (p=0.016, p=0.036, p=0.024, and p=0.019 respec-tively) while the Met group showed an only significant reduction in FBG (p=0.049), and non-signif-icant changes in HbA1c, HOMA-IR, and VO(2)max (p>0.05). REP group achieved greater improve-ments than AEP group (FBG, p=0.034; HbA1c%, p=0.002; HOMA-IR, p<0.001; and VO(2)max, p=0.024). Conclusion: Both resistance and aerobic exercise programs combined with metformin are effective in controlling T2DM. Resistance exercise combined with metformin is more effective than aerobic exercise combined with metformin in the treatment of T2DM.

Automated summary

This study compared the effects of resistance exercise combined with metformin and aerobic exercise combined with metformin in T2DM patients, finding that resistance exercise combined with metformin was more effective in the treatment of T2DM.