Effect of 12-week resistance training on clinical symptoms and quality of life in type-2 diabetic men with peripheral neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes leading to clinical symptoms and diminished quality of life. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of resistance training on clinical symptoms and quality of life in type-2 diabetic men with peripheral neuropathy.

In this clinical trial 30 diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy randomized to the experimental or placebo groups. The experimental group underwent a resistance training program over with the frequency of 3 sessions per week, at the intensity of 50-80% one repetition maximum, 1-3 sets for each exercise over 12 weeks. Before and after the experimental period clinical symptoms of neuropathy (Michigan Diabetic Neuropathy Score), quality of life (SF-36), quality of sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and fatigue (Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory) were assessed and blood samples were collected. Data were analyzed using paired and independent t-test at significance level of 0.05.

MDNS improved significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, fasting glucose and HbA1c significantly decreased following exercise intervention (p < 0.05). In addition, quality of life, quality of sleep and fatigue index improved in the experimental group (p < 0.05).

Based on the results of the present study, resistance training seems to be a proper intervention to improve clinical symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and quality of life in this population.