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Background
Diabetes mellitus (DM) or more commonly known as just diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which there are high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period. . Diabetes is due to either of the following two factors: the pancreas not producing enough insulin or the cells of the body not responding properly to the insulin produced. Resistance training and aerobic training are both major therapeutic remedies for type 2 diabetics. Unfortunately physical activity is often overseen when looking at ways to improve those who are diagnosed.

General Sypmtoms include:

Resistance Training
Resistance training involves using a weight or band as a resistance. General recommendations include doing 8-10 exercises per session, performing 2-4 sets with the ability to complete 8-12 repetitions on 2-3 non consecutive days a weeks.

Performing a program such as the one above combined with a moderate weight loss program with result in a decrease in HbA1c. Patients aged 60-80 with type 2 diabetics showed an improvement in glycemic control. Resistance training twice a week also demonstrated to improve insulin sensitivity and fasting glyemia whilst decreasing abdominal fat in particpants with type 2 diabetes. Resistance training has the potential to improve muscle strength and endurance, enhance flexibility and body composition, decrease risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and result in improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity.

Aerobic Training
Aerobic training has shown to reduce Hba1c by approximately 0.66%, an amount that would be expected to reduce the risk of diabetic complications significantly. Patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus undergoing aerobic circuit training had significant improvements in their cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle strength, lipid profile and glucose regulation. Glycosylated haemoglobin A1c of type 2 diabetics was reduced by 0.96% (p<0.5).

Recommendations
Following a well-structured concurrent training program will result in improved glycaemic control in both type 1 and type 2 diabetics. Aerobic training should consist of 2-3 sessions a week each for around 60minutes (including warm up and cool down). Resistance training is prescribed 2-3 times a week, using weights or elastic bands. Participants should aim for 2-3 sets of 8-12 repetitions at 55-75% 1 repetition maximum. Combining resisitance training and  aerobic training in the same session is an option although it is recommended to alternate the days.

Normal Week

Weekends should still include some type of physical activity rather than doing nothing at all. Going for a swim, walking the dog or doing some sort of exercise is better than nothing at all.

Conclusion
Resistance training and aerobic training will significantly improve glycaemic control. When combining the two in a concurrent training program, it will result in superior effect when comparing the effect of solely focusing on the one type of training