Randomized study on the comparison between aerobic training versus progressive resistance training over a 2 months period for older adults with type 2 diabetes. The hypothesis is that progressive resistance training is just as effective as aerobic training on Hba1c and could be an alternative training for those older diabetic patients who cannot participate in aerobic exercise.

Many studies have shown the importance of aerobic training with respect to management of diabetes. However adoption of aerobic activities may be challenging for some individuals with diabetes, especially the elderly and the obese. There is increasing interest in resistance training and no study have looked at direct comparison between the two.

Subjects with diabetes but is generally sedentary (determined by means of a questionnaire) were recruited and randomized in one of the two groups. Subjects are supervised in a group and a completer is defined as one who completed 18 sessions within 8 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• aged 50 years and above,
• Hba1c between 8 to 10 % in the past one month,
• sedentary,
• able to continuously walk for at least 20 minutes and climbed one flight of stairs unaided without stopping were eligible for participation.

Exclusion Criteria:

• uncontrolled diabetes mellitus with Hba1c more than 10% or if escalation of treatment of glycemic control or dyslipidemia was likely to be necessary over the 2 months training period period,
• congestive cardiac failure, unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction within the last one year,
• proliferative diabetic retinopathy,
• uncontrolled hypertension,
• advanced arthritis likely to limit mobility or participation in prescribed exercises,
• respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease,
• significant proteinuria or chronic renal insufficiency,
• received drugs for the treatment of obesity or very low caloric diet (VLCD, less than 1000 kcal/ day),
• renal disease and
• inability to monitor glucose level or comply with exercise program.