Background & aim: Exercise is an important component of health and an integral approach to the management of diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of intense interval training and concurrent resistance- endurance training on fasting sugar, insulin and insulin resistance in women with mellitus diabetes.

Methods: Fifty-two overweight female diabetic type 2 patients (aged 45-60 years old with fasting blood glucose≥ 126 mg/dl) were selected to participate in the present study. Participants were assigned to intense interval training group (N=17), concurrent resistance- endurance training group (N=17) and control group (N=18). The exercises incorporated 10 weeks of concurrent resistance- endurance training and intense interval training. Fasting blood sugar, serum insulin concentrations levels were measured. Concurrent training group trained eight weeks, three times a week of endurance training at 60% of maximum heart rate (MHR) and two resistance training sessions per week with 70% of one repetition maximum (1-RM). Intense interval training group trained for eight weeks, three sessions per week for 4 to 10 repeats Wingate test on the ergometer 30s performed with maximum effort. The control group did no systematic exercise. At the end of experiment 42 subjects were succeed and completed the study period, and 10 subjects were removed due to illness and absence in the exercise sessions. Fasting blood sugar and insulin levels 24 hours before and 48 hours after the last training session was measured.

Results: The findings indicated that in periodic fasting, the blood sugar in intensive training group had a marked decrease (p= 0.000) however, the fasting blood sugar of exercise and power stamina groups reduced significantly (p=0.062). The results showed no significant difference between the groups (171/0 p =0.171). Fasting insulin (p <0.001) and insulin resistance (0001/0 = p=0.001) in periodic intensive training group were significantly reduced after the exercise program. The results between groups indicated a marked difference in fasting insulin (p=0.036) and insulin resistance (p=0.008) respectively.

Conclusions: Concurrent resistance- endurance training and the intensive training could have a positive effects on blood sugar levels, insulin and insulin resistance of women with diabetes mellitus.