Can lifting weights help older people with diabetes feel better?
The efficacy of resistance exercise training on metabolic health, body composition, and muscle strength in older adults with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and Meta-Analysis.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Resistance exercise improved metabolic health without changing body weight or fat mass.
Most people assume health improvements like better blood sugar and cholesterol come from fat loss—but here, benefits occurred without it.
Practical Takeaways
Incorporate resistance training 2–3 times per week to improve blood sugar and cholesterol if you're an older adult with type 2 diabetes.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Resistance exercise improved metabolic health without changing body weight or fat mass.
Most people assume health improvements like better blood sugar and cholesterol come from fat loss—but here, benefits occurred without it.
Practical Takeaways
Incorporate resistance training 2–3 times per week to improve blood sugar and cholesterol if you're an older adult with type 2 diabetes.
Publication
Journal
Diabetes research and clinical practice
Year
2025
Authors
Mingxing Feng, Luyan Gu, Yan Zeng, Wenjing Gao, C. Cai, Yingqi Chen, Xiuying Guo
Related Content
Claims (6)
Lifting heavy weights helps lower your blood sugar quickly by moving more glucose into your muscles, and over time this can improve your blood sugar control and cholesterol.
Lifting weights helps older people with type 2 diabetes get stronger, but it doesn’t really change their blood pressure or heart rate.
Lifting weights might help older people with type 2 diabetes lower their blood sugar over time — on average, their A1c went down by half a percent.
Lifting weights might help older people with type 2 diabetes lower their blood sugar a little bit in the short term.
Lifting weights might help older people with type 2 diabetes lower their bad cholesterol and triglycerides, which could be good for their heart health.