Strength training and glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus: acute and chronic effects – a literature review.

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia and associated with several microvascular and macrovascular complications, representing a major global public health concern. Among non-pharmacological strategies for disease management, physical exercise plays a central role, with resistance training standing out due to its metabolic and functional benefits. The aim of this study was to analyze, through a literature review, the effects of resistance training on glycemic control in individuals with diabetes mellitus, considering the associated physiological and metabolic adaptations. This study is a systematized literature review conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, including studies published between 2020 and 2025. A total of 28 studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings indicate that resistance training promotes reductions in fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), increases insulin sensitivity, enhances muscle mass, and reduces body fat. These effects are associated with mechanisms such as increased expression and translocation of GLUT-4, activation of AMPK, and structural adaptations in skeletal muscle. Furthermore, training protocols with moderate to high intensity, frequency of two to three sessions per week, and a minimum duration of 12 weeks showed consistent results. It is concluded that resistance training is an effective and safe strategy for glycemic control in individuals with diabetes mellitus and should be incorporated into therapeutic programs, although further studies are needed to standardize intervention protocols.