The Claim
Combining resistance and aerobic exercise results in greater improvements in glycemic control, as measured by larger reductions in HbA1c and enhanced insulin sensitivity, compared to resistance exercise or aerobic exercise alone in adults with type 2 diabetes.
What the research says
Roughly balanced
Support and challenge are close. The picture may shift as more studies come in.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
In adults with type 2 diabetes, doing both strength training and cardio exercise together leads to larger decreases in HbA1c and better insulin sensitivity than doing either type of exercise alone.
See the scientific wording
Combining resistance and aerobic exercise is more effective than either modality alone for improving glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes, as demonstrated by greater reductions in HbA1c and improved insulin sensitivity.
When muscles contract during exercise, they pull glucose from the blood without needing insulin by moving more glucose transporters to the muscle surface. Adding resistance and aerobic exercise together increases this effect more than either alone, because they activate different signals that all push more glucose transporters to the muscle membrane. This pulls more sugar out of the blood and stores it as glycogen in the muscles, lowering blood sugar levels over time.
What the research says
1 studyPeople with type 2 diabetes who exercised and took creatine had lower blood sugar levels, which suggests that exercising (likely both strength and cardio) helps control blood sugar. Even though creatine was added, the exercise part still worked well.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.