Effects of Aerobic and Resistance Exercises on Selected Physiological Biochemical and Anthropometric Variables among Type 2 Diabetic Patients in Dilla, Ethiopia

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of aerobic, resistance combined aerobic and resistance exercises on some specific physiological, biochemical, and anthropometric variables among type 2 diabetic patients. The study participants were 24 adult group patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus selected among the permanent follow up subjects of Dilla University Referral Hospital (DURH) clinic of diabetes care center in Dilla, Ethiopia. The randomly assigned subjects were allocated to experiment group such as aerobic exercise group (n= 6), resistance exercise group (n=6), combined aerobic and resistance exercise group (n=6) and the control group (n=6).total. The training period was 16 weeks. The Physiological and biochemical tests as well as anthropometric measurements were examined during pretest and posttest of the study. To compare means and mean difference of pretest and posttest of each exercise group, pair sample t test was used. To get a significant ANOVA by comparing the changes among groups, Tukey post hoc test also used. After sixteen weeks of regular exercise training glycosylated hemoglobin level (HbA1c), Fasting blood sugar level (FBS), blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), Heart rate (HR), and percentage of body fat (BF %) were significantly improved in the groups of exercise intervention. This was combined aerobic and resistance exercise alone followed by resistance exercise alone, and aerobic exercise alone. However none were significant in the control group. Thus, our study concluded that combined aerobic and resistance exercise alone has more beneficial than resistance exercise alone and aerobic exercise alone for the selected physiological, biochemical and anthropometric variables for patients with type 2 diabetes.