The Diabetes Aerobic and Resistance Bands Exercise (DARE-Bands) Trial

Summary

BACKGROUND Resistance exercise training with free weights or weight machines clearly improves glucose (sugar) control in type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, many patients with T2D would prefer not to attend an exercise facility, for reasons of cost and/or convenience. Coinvestigator Jonathon Fowles has developed and pilot-tested a home-based exercise program for people with T2D using resistance bands. However, the effects of resistance-bands training (on glucose control in T2D have not been evaluated in a high-quality randomized trial.

SPECIFIC AIMS To determine the effects of six months of progressive home-based resistance bands training (RBT) versus no RBT in people with T2D on blood glucose control (HbA1c, primary outcome), waist circumference, heart disease risk factors, and quality of life.

METHODS A total of 100 T2D participants will be randomized to 2 arms: home-based RBT (RBT-H) or aerobic training only (ATO). Both groups will accumulate 150 minutes per week of aerobic exercise such as walking. The resistance exercise workout includes 12 exercises, targeting all major muscle groups. RBT-H subjects will complete most exercise at home with periodic supervision.

SIGNIFICANCE The global burden of type 2 diabetes is increasing, and complications of the illness occur primarily in those whose glucose control is fair or poor. If exercise training with resistance bands improves glucose control, it could be beneficial to the large numbers of patients who cannot travel to a gym or cannot afford gym membership. If resistance exercise is then adopted by more patients, it is likely that the morbidity associated with type 2 diabetes will be decreased. This is particularly true if such training also improves quality of life, and more people are thus inclined to continue exercising in the long term.

Conditions

• Type 2 Diabetes

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Aerobic Training (AT)

All subjects will participate in a 10-week ramp-in period with the goal of achieving 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week. Walking and jogging will be the primary modes of achieving the prescribed aerobic activity as these are the modes of aerobic exercise that are most accurately recorded by an accelerometer. Subjects will use the Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) to guide aerobic exercise intensity. Aerobic activity will be objectively monitored by the Technogym MyWellness Key (MWK) accelerometer, which is a lightweight device worn on the waistband.

BEHAVIORAL

AT plus Primarily Home-Based Resistance Band Training

The bands + AT group will engage in RBT 3 times per week, progressing to 3 sets of 10-15 repetitions of 12 exercises. The exercises will be: chair squat, sitting chest press, seated rear fly, seated row, overhead press, lateral raise, biceps curl, triceps extension, leg extension, hamstring curl, gluteal extension, and abdominals. The resistance band exercise sessions will be between 25-60 minutes. Participants in this group will attend supervised group sessions weekly in weeks 1-4, every 2 weeks in weeks 5-8, and every 4 weeks thereafter to ensure proper form and appropriate progression. Participants in this group will be responsible to complete all remaining sessions (a total of 3 per week, including supervised sessions) at home on their own time.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Calgary

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Ronald Sigal, MPH, MD · University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

35 Years

Max Age

75 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2014-02-28

Primary Completion

2019-12-31

Completion

2019-12-31

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations