Alyson Yeshion
Research Mentor: Rachel Cook
Mentor Department: Movement Science, Kinesiology
Author(s): Alyson Yeshion, Rachel Logue Cook, Sarah Lessila, Frank Doyle, Lauren Opielinski, Sandra Hunter
Session: Session 7 (4:00 PM – 4:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Poster 79
Abstract
Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by elevated HbA1c (% glycated hemoglobin) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, which have been associated with increased rates of sarcopenia, greater fatigability, and reduced muscle strength due to reduced blood flow and decreased glucose energy to muscles (Qiao et al., 2021). Previous studies have shown a positive correlation between regular exercise and improved glycemic control, which can lead to muscle growth and improved strength (Dadzie et al., 2025). Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the association between diabetes severity and changes in muscle power and fatigability from strength training in adults with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Methods: Twelve participants (ages 40–80) with pre-diabetes (n = 4) or type 2 diabetes (n = 8) underwent 8 weeks of blood-flow restriction (BFR) training of the quadricep muscle, using 25% of their 1-rep maximum weight able to be lifted by one leg (1RM, measured weekly) to perform two sets of 15 single-leg repetitions and one set of repetitions to failure. Before and after 8 weeks, we measured HbA1c and FPG levels, maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), and power of dynamic contractions throughout a 4-minute fatiguing task. It was hypothesized that participants with more severe diabetes (measured by higher HbA1c and FPG levels) would demonstrate smaller improvements in strength and fatigue. Results: We found that, regardless of diabetes severity, all participants improved in fatigability of their quad muscles after 8 weeks of strength training. However, participants with more severe diabetes saw smaller improvements in fatigue than those with less severe diabetes (r = -0.57). This did not translate to strength, where we saw that, as diabetes severity increased, the increase in third set repetitions from week 1 to week 8 was larger (r = 0.30). There were no associations between diabetes severity and changes in muscle strength in MVC (r = 0.06). Conclusion: Future studies may concern the dosage and type of strength training for optimal improvements in those with more severe diagnoses. This research highlights the impact of a therapeutic, non-pharmacological intervention for diabetes management, demonstrating that regular exercise can directly translate to enhanced muscle function, reduced fatigue, and greater independence in everyday life.
