Higher muscle mass improves insulin sensitivity

[CoachBobM]

Diabetes Melitus, a disease in which the body does not properly metabolize sugar, occurs in two forms: In Type I diabetes, the cells in the pancreas which produce insulin (a hormone which is needed to metabolize sugar) have been destroyed by the body's own immune system. But in Type II diabetes (which is far more common), the body continues to produce insulin, but cannot utilize it properly due to a condition known as insulin resistance. Type II diabetes has reached near epidemic proportions in recent years due to the increasing prevalence of obesity.

A recent study by P. Srikanthan and A.S. Karlamangla from the Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA measured the skeletal muscle index (the ratio of total skeletal muscle mass to total body weight) in 13,644 subjects and related it to insulin resistance and the prevalence of pre- or overt diabetes melitus (PDM). After adjusting for age, ethnicity, sex, and generalized and central obesity, each 10% increase in skeletal mass index was associated with an 11% relative reduction in insulin resistance and a 12% relative reduction in PDM prevalence.


Bob

[dougalt]

Coach Bob: these postings about the benefits of exercise and strength training are music to an old gym teacher's ears...