WEIGHT TRAINING AND INSULIN RESISTANCE: BENEFITS OF RESISTANCE TRAINING FOR PEOPLE WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES: AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

Authors

  • Carlos Felipe da Silva Costa
  • Everton Levi Nascimento dos Santos
  • Paula Adriana dos Santos de Fontes

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63330/sasciencesv6n2-256

Keywords:

Glycemic Control, Insulin Resistance, Physical Exercise, Resistance Training, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic condition characterized by impaired insulin action and glycemic regulation, with resistance training representing a non-pharmacological strategy for its management. This study aimed to analyze the effects of resistance training on insulin resistance and glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. An integrative literature review was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, the Virtual Health Library (VHL), and SciELO databases, considering studies published between 2021 and 2026. A total of 162 records were identified, of which 13 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final analysis. The findings indicated that resistance training produced favorable effects on metabolic indicators, including glycated hemoglobin, fasting blood glucose, insulin levels, and HOMA-IR, although not all interventions resulted in statistically significant changes. Improvements in muscle strength, body composition, and functional capacity were also observed, particularly among older adults. Differences in outcomes were associated with variations in training protocols, participant characteristics, and supervision conditions. It was concluded that resistance training represents a relevant complementary intervention in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus, potentially promoting both metabolic and muscular adaptations. However, the heterogeneity of the interventions highlights the importance of individualized exercise prescription and further research to determine the most appropriate training characteristics for optimizing glycemic control and insulin sensitivity.

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References

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Published

2026-10-27

How to Cite

Costa, C. F. da S. ., dos Santos, E. L. N. ., & de Fontes, P. A. dos S. . (2026). WEIGHT TRAINING AND INSULIN RESISTANCE: BENEFITS OF RESISTANCE TRAINING FOR PEOPLE WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES: AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW. South American Sciences, 6(2), e26483. https://doi.org/10.63330/sasciencesv6n2-256

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