Increasing Muscle Mass May Improve Insulin Resistance And Lower Risk For Diabetes

Is it possible to improve insulin sensitivity and stave off a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes by increasing muscle mass?

Yes, according to this study:

Relative Muscle Mass Is Inversely Associated With Insulin Resistance And Prediabetes. Findings From The Third National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, September, 2011

Analysis of data from 13,644 participants of NHANES III revealed:

In people with diabetes, each 10% increase in skeletal muscle index (SMI: the ratio of total skeletal muscle mass, estimated by bioelectrical impedance, to total body weight) was associated with:

• 11% reduction in insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)
  
• 12% reduction in prediabetes prevalence

Reductions were higher in people without diabetes.

Study author Dr. Preethi Srikanthan, an assistant professor of medicine in the division of endocrinology at UCLA, said in a press release:

"Our findings suggest that beyond focusing on losing weight to improve metabolic health, there may be a role for maintaining fitness and building muscle mass. This is a welcome message for many overweight patients who experience difficulty in achieving weight loss, as any effort to get moving and keep fit should be seen as laudable and contributing to metabolic change."

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