Diabetes when combined with any form of aerobic or strength exercise displayed a lot of improvements in glucose control along with fat composition and physical performance as per the latest study.

According to the American Physical Therapy Association spokesperson Robin L. Marcus aerobic exercises along with some considerable strength training is highly recommended for treating people with diabetes.

The results of this study were published in the November issue of the Physical Therapy journal. Diabetic currently affects approximately 24 million people in the United States itself. Type 2 diabetes, which is a chronic illness caused by the decrease in the insulin sensitivity and overall poor control of glucose, is promoted by a decrease in the physical activity.

According to Robin Marcus, diabetic patients should be motivated to undertake physical therapy as a cost effective and safe alternative treatment. This study involved 15 volunteers with type-2 diabetes who participated for 16 weeks under supervised exercise training programs. There were eight of them who undertook aerobic exercises and the other seven combined aerobic as well as strength training programs.

After a period of three months, both the groups showed an improvement in the glucose levels and physical performance. They also showed a decrease in the fat composition in the leg muscles.

Even if aerobic experiences are a proven to be a key in treating diabetes, it should not be used all by itself. People lose mobility because they tend to lose the muscle mass. Strength training increases the lean tissue and hence increases the metabolism of the body.