The effect of combined resistance and home-based walking exercise in type 2 diabetes patients

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of combined resistance and home-based walking exercise on glycemic and metabolic control, depression and quality of life in type-2 diabetes patients. Methods: This prospective study was conducted at a private hospital in Turkey. Thirty-six type-2 diabetic patients participated in the study. Subjects were randomly distributed in one 8 week exercise intervention or in one control group. Exercise program consisted of resistance training and home-based walking. Before and after the training program, muscular strength, fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1C, (HbA1C) and plasma lipid values, quality of life and symptoms of depression of the patients were assessed. Results: Exercise group's baseline HbA1C was significantly higher than the control groups (p<0.05); other blood parameters were similar between the two groups (p>0.05). At the baseline no significant differences were observed in the depression and four subscales (physical function, physical role, bodily pain, and general health perceptions) of the SF-36 between the exercise and control groups (p>0.05). The exercise group had higher scores of emotional role, vitality and mental health subscales than the control groups after the training programs (p<0.05). Conclusion: Exercise training which included resistance training and home-based walking could be safe, effective and beneficial in diabetic patients.