Hormonal
Resistance exercise is the most effective lifestyle intervention for increasing muscle strength in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D), although it may induce an anabolic resistance regarding muscle mass gains compared to healthy controls.
For people with Type 2 Diabetes, resistance training is the best way to build strength. While it might not build as much muscle mass as it does in healthy people (due to 'anabolic resistance'), it is still superior to aerobic exercise for strength. Aim for at least two days a week of resistance training, potentially starting with home-based programs if gym access is a barrier.
Resistance exercise is the most effective method to increase muscle mass and strength in people with T2D, but there is some evidence of an anabolic resistance.
Why this rating
Supported by multiple meta-analyses and RCTs, though sample sizes for direct comparisons are noted as small.
Source
Are strategies to increase muscle mass and strength as effective in people with type 2 diabetes?
Amina Al-Awadi et al. · Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders · 2025
DOI 10.1007/s11154-025-09947-8
More from this paper
- Pharmacotherapies for T2D and obesity, specifically GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., Tirzepatide) and SGLT2 inhibitors, cause significant loss of lean body mass (20-50% of total weight loss), necessitating concurrent resistance exercise and protein intake to mitigate muscle loss.Good
- Increasing dietary protein intake alone does not overcome anabolic resistance in T2D, but protein supplementation combined with resistance exercise may improve lean mass gains compared to exercise alone.Moderate
Related findings · Hormonal
- Initial treatment for type 2 diabetes should be a combination of metformin and either an SGLT-2 inhibitor or a GLP-1 receptor agonist to achieve cardiorenal protection, rather than monotherapy or older agents like sulfonylureas.Strong
- For patients with specific monogenic obesity syndromes (leptin deficiency, POMC/PCSK1/LEPR mutations), targeted pharmacotherapy (recombinant leptin or setmelanotide) is highly effective and should be prioritized, unlike in polygenic obesity.Strong
- Continued weekly administration of 2.4 mg subcutaneous semaglutide prevents weight regain and promotes further weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity, whereas switching to placebo results in significant weight regain.Strong
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