Exercise in any form can play a key role in helping diabetics to reduce body fat and control glucose, even among so-called ‘non-responders,’ a study has shown.

New research by University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center cardiologists found that waist circumference, percentage of body fat, and haemoglobin A1c levels (a test of long-term blood sugar) all improved in diabetic participants who exercised compared to those who did not.

The beneficial effects of exercise were evident whether study participants underwent aerobics, resistance training, or a combination of the two, compared to a control group that did not exercise. The results build on previous research which has suggested that resistance or strength training is an important tool in controlling diabetes.

The latest findings are significant as they show that physical activity can still bring wider benefits to people who are unable to improve their cardiorespiratory fitness levels despite diligent exercise. Called ‘non-responders’ this sub-group is estimated to comprise as many as 30 per cent of exercisers, say researchers, who added that exercise was shown to bring benefits far beyond increasing aerobic capacity.

'What we observed is that exercise improves diabetes control regardless of improvement in exercise capacity,' said Dr Jarett Berry, associate professor of internal medicine and clinical sciences at UT Southwestern, and co-senior author of the study.

The researchers propose that exercise-training programmes for people with Type 2 diabetes should be expanded to measure improvements in glycemic control, waist circumference, and percentage of body fat. The additional measurements, they say, will help to broaden our understanding of what it means to respond to exercise.