Professor Robert Trybulski: Resistance Training as an Important Ally in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes

Professor Robert Trybulski of the Upper Silesian Academy in Katowice, Poland, is one of the plenary speakers at the International Conference of MontenegroSport 2026, which will be held in Podgorica from 24 to 27 September 2026.

Professor Trybulski combines academic research with extensive professional experience in physiotherapy and combat sports. His scientific and professional interests focus on sports medicine, rehabilitation, recovery strategies, and contemporary therapeutic approaches in working with athletes and individuals living with chronic diseases.

At the conference, he will present the findings of his latest research entitled “Resistance Training and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses on Glycemic and Cardiometabolic Outcomes,” published in the renowned international journal Metabolism.

Resistance Training as Part of Modern Diabetes Treatment

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is one of the most significant public health challenges of our time. Although physical activity has long been recommended as an essential component of treatment, interest in the effects of resistance training on disease management and patients’ overall health has grown considerably in recent years.

To provide the most reliable possible assessment of the actual effects of this type of exercise, Professor Trybulski and his colleagues conducted an umbrella review, representing one of the highest levels of scientific evidence synthesis. The researchers analysed 43 systematic reviews and meta-analyses that included findings from a large number of previous studies.

What Do the Results Show?

The results clearly confirm that resistance training provides significant health benefits for people living with type 2 diabetes.

The study shows that regular resistance training contributes to:

• improved blood glucose control and reduced HbA1c levels;
• lower fasting blood glucose concentrations;
• reduced systolic blood pressure;
• improved lipid profiles through reductions in LDL cholesterol and triglycerides;
• significant increases in muscular strength;
• moderate improvements in physical health-related quality of life.

At the same time, the authors emphasise that changes in body weight and body mass index are generally less pronounced. This finding confirms that the health benefits of resistance training extend far beyond weight loss alone.

An Important Message for Clinical Practice

Based on the highest-quality scientific evidence currently available, the authors conclude that resistance training represents an effective non-pharmacological intervention for improving glycaemic control and selected cardiometabolic outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes.

Although the observed effects are generally small to moderate, the findings provide sufficiently convincing evidence that resistance training should be incorporated into a modern, multidisciplinary approach to diabetes treatment.

The researchers also highlight the need for future randomised controlled trials of higher methodological quality, as well as standardised training protocols, to further strengthen the existing scientific evidence.

Professor Robert Trybulski’s lecture will provide conference participants with an opportunity to hear first-hand about the latest scientific findings regarding the role of resistance training in preventing complications and improving the quality of life of people living with type 2 diabetes.

The presentation will also address the practical application of these findings in sports medicine and clinical practice.

Reference

Trybulski R, Żebrowska A, Fostiak K, Olaniszyn G, Wilk M. “Resistance Training and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses on Glycemic and Cardiometabolic Outcomes.” Metabolism.