INTRODUCTION: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) in elderly patients is associated with accelerated loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength. However, there are few meta-analysis reviews which investigate the effects of resistance training (RT) on glycemic control and skeletal muscle in the patients. METHODS: Three electronic databases were searched (from the earliest date available to November 2016). Studies were included according to the inclusion criteria: T2D patients at least 60 years old, fasting plasma glucose of at least 7.0, and at least 8 weeks of RT. RESULTS: Fifteen cohorts of eight studies (360 patients, average age 66 years) met the inclusion criteria. RT groups lowered glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (mean ES -0.37, 95% CI -0.55 to -0.20, p < 0.01) but did not result in a significant effect on lean body mass (LBM) (mean ES 0.08, 95% CI -0.15 to 0.30, p = 0.50). Homogeneity was shown between studies regarding HbA1c and LBM (Q = 15.70, df = 9, p = 0.07 and Q = 0.12, df = 4, p = 0.998, respectively). High-intensity subgroups showed a slight tendency to improve (rather than duration, frequency, and weekly volume) and to decrease HbA1c levels more than low-intensity subgroups (p = 0.37). RT increased muscular strength (mean ES 1.05, 95% CI 0.26 to 1.84, p = 0.01). No training components explained the heterogeneity between studies with changes in muscle strength. CONCLUSION: RT improves glycemic control and muscle strength in elderly patients with T2D. RT with high intensity can be a strategy to treat patients with T2D and sarcopenia associated with aging.

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