Older people who take part in both aerobic exercise and resistance training may be better able to manage their blood sugar, as well as improving other aspects of their health, a new study suggests.
Canadian researchers studied 117 sedentary men and women over the course of four years, assigning them to various exercise programs for six-month periods, HealthDay News reports.
They found that participants who took part in either aerobic exercise alone or aerobic exercise alongside resistance training demonstrated improved insulin resistance. Meanwhile, the other groups did not show improvement.
Study co-author Robert Ross told the news provider the findings could help experts set activity guidelines for senior health.
He said that older people who want to manage blood sugar, reduce their risk of diabetes and heart disease, and continue to live independently should combine aerobic and resistance training.
Commenting on the study, diabetes expert Dr. Roger H. Unger said the results were not surprising.
“When we overeat and under-exert, when we dont use our muscles over long periods of time, we obviously will ultimately suffer the consequences including insulin resistance,” he told HealthDay News.
Some seniors have turned to nutritional supplements to help manage their blood sugar.
