Canadian team uncovers help for people with diabetes in controlling blood sugar

by Rhonda Watson
Posted September 17, 2007

A University of Calgary diabetes specialist has found that aerobic and/or weight training improves blood sugar levels for people with diabetes. The improvements are twice as good with combined aerobic and weight training.

University of Calgary 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, associate professor in the faculties of medicine and kinesiology at the University of Calgary. "I suspected that high intensity weight training could help improve blood sugar levels in people with diabetes, and might also improve vitality and quality of life. That's why we decided to do this study."

"We know without a doubt that exercise is beneficial to our health - but it's often easier to say than do. This important paper shows us that not only aerobic exercise, but also resistance training helps people with diabetes control their blood sugar. And if a person does both they can control their blood sugar even better," said Diane Finegood, PhD, scientific director of CIHR's Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes.

"The benefits of exercising are tremendous," said Calgarian Jack Vitalis, whose blood sugar levels have dropped two points since he started an exercise program including aerobic and weight training. "I'm tickled pink because my sugar levels have fallen more than two points, putting me in normal range, since I started exercising and lifting weights."

The Diabetes Aerobic Resistance Exercise (DARE) trial was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canadian Diabetes Association, OHRI Research Chair in Lifestyle Research, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

Download a copy of the news release.

About the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary
The U of C's Faculty of Medicine is a national leader in health research with an international reputation for excellence and innovation in health care research, education and delivery. Through its educational programs, the Faculty of Medicine trains the physicians and scientists who will lead the next generation of health practitioners. Through its clinical work, continuing medical education programs, and close relationship with the Calgary Health Region, the Faculty of Medicine moves new treatments and diagnostic techniques from the laboratory bench to the hospital bedside efficiently and effectively, improving patient care.

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