Effects of adding exercise to a 16-week very low-calorie diet in obese, insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Context: Reduction of 50% excess body weight, using a very low-calorie diet (VLCD; 450 kcal/d) improves insulin sensitivity in obese type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate whether adding exercise to the VLCD has additional benefits. Design: This was a randomized intervention study. Setting: The study was conducted at a clinical research center in an academic medical center. Subjects: Twenty-seven obese [body mass index 37.2 ± 0.9 kg/m2 (mean ± sem)] insulin-treated type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Intervention: Patients followed a 16-wk VLCD. Thirteen of them simultaneously participated in an exercise program (E) consisting of 1-h, in-hospital training and four 30-min training sessions on a cycloergometer weekly. Outcome Measures: Insulin resistance was measured by a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp. Insulin signaling, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content, and intramyocellular lipid content was measured in skeletal muscle biopsies. Results: Baseline charac...