The effect of eight weeks of Pilates or Traband training on serum glucose levels, markers of insulin resistance, neuropathic pain and some functional indices of women with type 2 diabetes

Physical inactivity leads to insulin resistance and diabetes. Insulin resistance is a hallmark feature of type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of Pilates or Traband training on serum glucose levels, markers of insulin resistance, neuropathic pain and some functional indices of women with type 2 diabetes. In this semi-experimental study, 34 women with type 2 diabetes were randomly divided into three groups: Pilates training (n=12), Traband training (n=11) and control (n=11). The exercise program consisted of eight weeks, three sessions per week, and each session lasted 45-60 minutes. To investigate the changes in the pain index, repeated measurement and Bonferroni's post hoc test were used. The paired sample t-test method and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to compare within and between groups, respectively. Findings showed that fasting glucose concentration, insulin, and insulin resistance index significantly decreases only in the Traband training group; However, there was no significant change in the Pilates and control groups. The pain index during the time series was significant (p = 0.01). In both Pilates and Traband groups, there was a significant increase in the variables of muscle endurance, flexibility and maximal oxygen consumption (p = 0.01). Exercise training in accordance with the Traband model causes statistically and clinically more significant changes in fasting glucose concentration, insulin, insulin resistance index than Pilates intervention. Therefore, it is possible to use Traband exercise to improve type 2 diabetic patients and prevent the harmful effects of diabetes for women with type 2 diabetes.