Glycemic and cardiometabolic effects of exercise in South Asian Sri Lankans with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized controlled trial Sri Lanka diabetes aerobic and resistance training study (SL-DARTS)

Background and aims: To examine the effects of aerobic training (AT) and resistance training (RT) compared to standard care on glycemic control in South Asian Sri Lankan adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Methods: Randomized controlled trial (RCT) with parallel-group design recruited 86 sedentary Sri Lankans (aged 35-65 years) with T2DM into aerobic training (AT, n = 28), resistance training (RT, n = 28) and control (CN, n = 30) groups. Supervised progressive exercise training consisting of 75 min per session, 2 days per week for 12 weeks was conducted. The primary outcome was pre- and post-intervention absolute change in hemoglobin A1c (HBA1c). Secondary outcomes were serum lipids, liver enzymes, chronic inflammatory status, anthropometry, body composition and blood pressure. Results: The absolute change in HbA1c of RT vs. CN was -0.08% (95% CI, 0.8% to -0.7%, p = 0.8) and AT vs. CN was -0.22% (95% CI, 0.95% to -0.5%). Subgroup analysis (n = 49) with a high baseline HbA1c (>7.5%), absolute reduction in HbA1c in exercise groups were statistically significant (RT vs. CN was -0.37%; 95% CI 1.3% to -0.6%, p = 0.04 and AT vs. CN was -0.57%; 95% CI 1.7% to -0.6%, p = 0.03). The effect sizes (total and subgroup HbA1c >7.5%) ranged from 0.7 to 1.0 in AT, 0.4 to 1.1 in RT compared to 0.35 to 0.6 for the CN. Secondary outcomes did not significantly differ among groups. Conclusions: Exercise training 2 days/week improved glycemic control in Sri Lankan adults with T2DM and the effects were significant in high baseline HbA1c (>7.5%) groups (RT > AT).