Taking an aerobics class or lifting weights can help lower blood sugar levels in diabetics, a new study from the University of Calgary has found.

The study is published in the Tuesday issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Changes in A1c value, a number that reflects blood sugar concentrations, were noted in groups that did aerobic exercise and weight lifting.
(CBC)

Researchers studied 251 people with Type 2 diabetes in a six-month randomized control trial in Ottawa.

One group engaged only in aerobic exercise, such as walking, cycling or jogging, one group did resistance exercise only (weight lifting), another group undertook both aerobic and resistance exercise, and a control group did not exercise at all.

Changes in A1c value, a number that reflects blood sugar concentrations, were noted.

A1c in people without diabetes is four to six per cent, and an A1c of seven per cent or lower is considered good in people with diabetes.

The combined aerobic and weight training group experienced a 0.97 percentage point absolute drop in A1c value compared to the non-exercising group. The aerobic training group experienced a smaller but still significant absolute drop of about 0.5 percentage point and the weight training group saw an absolute drop of about 0.5 percentage point as well.

"The improvements we found might seem small, but they are clinically significant," said Dr. Ron Sigal, a member of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta and the Julia McFarlane Diabetes Research Centre at the University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine.

A one percentage point drop in A1c levels "reduces the risk of a major cardiovascular event such as stroke or heart attack by 15 to 20 per cent, and blindness, kidney failure, or amputations by 25 to 40 per cent.

"Our study demonstrates that people with Type 2 diabetes who want to maximize their glucose control and reduce their risk of long-term complications should consider a combination of both aerobic and resistance training like weight lifting."

'I felt very sluggish'

Jack Vitalis certainly agrees. He was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes more than 25 years ago.

"I felt very sluggish and I was always tired," he told CBC News Monday.

Two years ago he found his way to the gym.

"Now I feel so much better. I have a lot more energy," he said.