Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of resistance training combined with high milk protein nutrition in the elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and sarcopenia. Methods A total of 78 elderly patients with T2DM and sarcopenia admitted to our hospital from January 2021 to January 2022 were selected as the study subjects, and were randomly divided into two groups, with 39 cases in each group. The control group received routine treatment, while the study group received resistance training combined with high milk protein nutrition intervention on the basic treatment of the control group. The skeletal muscle mass index, grip strength, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), quality of life (QOL) and the incidence of falls in two groups were observed and compared. Results After intervention, the levels of skeletal muscle mass index and grip strength in the study group were significantly higher than those before intervention and those in the control group (P<0.05). The levels of FPG and HbA1c were significantly decreased in two groups after intervention, especially in the study group (P<0.05). After intervention, the scores of QOL of all dimensions were significantly higher than those before intervention in the study group (P<0.05), and the scores of physiological function, role physical, overall health, and mental health in the study group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The incidence rate of falls in the study group was lower than that in the the control group (5.13% vs 23.08%,P<0.05). Conclusions Resistance training combined with high milk protein nutrition can significantly improve the skeletal muscle mass index and grip strength of the elderly T2DM patients with sarcopenia, reduce blood glucose, improve the QOL of the patients and reduce the incidence of falls.

Key words: resistance training, high milk protein nutrition, type 2 diabetes mellitus, sarcopenia