Strength training increases insulin-mediated glucose uptake, GLUT4 content, and insulin signaling in skeletal muscle in patients with type 2 diabetes

Diabetes. 2004 Feb;53(2):294-305. doi: 10.2337/diabetes.53.2.294.

Abstract

Strength training represents an alternative to endurance training for patients with type 2 diabetes. Little is known about the effect on insulin action and key proteins in skeletal muscle, and the necessary volume of strength training is unknown. A total of 10 type 2 diabetic subjects and 7 healthy men (control subjects) strength-trained one leg three times per week for 6 weeks while the other leg remained untrained. Each session lasted no more than 30 min. After strength training, muscle biopsies were obtained, and an isoglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp combined with arterio-femoral venous catheterization of both legs was carried out. In general, qualitatively similar responses were obtained in both groups. During the clamp, leg blood flow was higher (P < 0.05) in trained versus untrained legs, but despite this, arterio-venous extraction glucose did not decrease in trained legs. Thus, leg glucose clearance was increased in trained legs (P < 0.05) and more than explained by increases in muscle mass. Strength training increased protein content of GLUT4, insulin receptor, protein kinase B-alpha/beta, glycogen synthase (GS), and GS total activity. In conclusion, we found that strength training for 30 min three times per week increases insulin action in skeletal muscle in both groups. The adaptation is attributable to local contraction-mediated mechanisms involving key proteins in the insulin signaling cascade.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biological Transport / drug effects
  • Capillaries / physiology
  • Capillaries / physiopathology
  • Denmark
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / physiopathology*
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Glucose / metabolism*
  • Glucose Transporter Type 4
  • Glycogen / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Insulin / pharmacology*
  • Insulin / physiology*
  • Leg
  • Male
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / metabolism*
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / drug effects
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / physiology
  • Muscle Proteins*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / drug effects
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiopathology*
  • Physical Fitness
  • Reference Values
  • Tensile Strength / physiology*
  • White People

Substances

  • Glucose Transporter Type 4
  • Insulin
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins
  • Muscle Proteins
  • SLC2A4 protein, human
  • Glycogen
  • Glucose