Exercise training improves glycemic control in long-standing insulin-treated type 2 diabetic patients.

R egular exercise represents an effective strategy to prevent and/or treat type 2 diabetes (1,2). However, the clinical benefits of exercise intervention in a vastly expanding group of long-standing insulin-treated type 2 diabetic patients with comorbidities are less evident. As these patients generally experience muscle weakness (3–6), cardiovascular comorbidities (7–10), and/or exercise intolerance (3,11–13), it has proven difficult or even impossible for them to adhere to an intense endurance exercise training regimen (14,15). In the present study, we investigated the feasibility and benefits of a low-impact exercise intervention program, combining both endurance and resistance-type exercise, in longstanding insulin-treated type 2 diabetic patients with a high cardiovascular risk profile. We assessed the impact of 5 months of exercise training on glycemic control, body composition, workload capacity, and whole-body as well as skeletal muscle oxidative capacity.