The effects of personalized sprint interval training and combined aerobic endurance and resistance training on insulin resistance and glycated hemoglobin in women with type 2 diabetes

Exercise training is a well-established therapeutic tool for treating type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this study is to examine the beneficial effects of personalized sprint interval training (SIT) and combined aerobic endurance and resistance training (Com) on insulin resistance and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) concentration in women with type 2 diabetes.

Fifty-two overweight female type 2 diabetic patients (age 45-60 years and body mass index [BMI] > 30) with HbA1c value of 6.5% or higher and fasting blood glucose (FBG) ≥ 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) were selected. Participants were recruited from patients filed in the outpatient department of Shahrekord Hospital (Shahrekord, Iran) in 2016. The participants were assigned to SIT (n=17), Com (n=17), and control groups (n=18) according to HbA1c levels. The exercises included 10 weeks of Com and SIT.

HbA1c concentrations decreased significantly in SIT (P=0.002) and Com (P=0.006) groups. The dependent t-test revealed that differences were significant for the FBG in the SIT groups (P<0.001). Serum insulin levels showed significant increases in the SIT (P<0.001) and Com (P<0.001) groups. Data showed significant differences in homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in SIT (P<0.001) and Com (P<0.001) groups. The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) test showed significant differences in serum insulin (F=3.622, P=0.02) and HOMA-IR (F=5.511, P=0.0001) levels and no significant difference in HbA1c (F=0.597, P=0.556) and FBG concentrations (F=1.853, P=0.171).

Results highlight that individualized exercise training, independent of the mode of training, is effective in improving glycemic control in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes.