Objective: To investigate the effects of blood flow restriction combined with low-intensity resistance training on glucose metabolism, skeletal muscle insulin resistance (PI3K/Akt/Glut4) pathway and its downstream P70S6K protein expression and mass in T2DM rats. Methods: The type Ⅱ diabetes mellitus rat model was constructed by feeding high-sugar and high-fat diet for 8 weeks and injecting 35 mg/kg streptozotocin. The successfully modeled type Ⅱ diabetes mellitus rats were divided into 5 groups (n=9). Type Ⅱ diabetes control group (DR): no exercise intervention; pure blood flow restriction training group (BRT): blood flow restriction for 5 minutes, rest for 5 minutes, 4 cycles; high-intensity resistance training group (HRT): 50%~75% 1RM; low-intensity resistance training group (LRT): 35%~55% 1RM; blood flow restriction combined with low-intensity resistance training group (BLRT): blood flow restriction combined with 35%~55% 1RM. After exercise, glucose metabolism indexes were measured, and the expression of PI3K/Akt/Glut4 pathway and P70S6K-related proteins were measured by Western blot. Results: ①After 8 weeks, fasting blood glucose in BRT, LRT and BLRT groups decreased significantly (P<0.05). ②Compared with DR group, p-PI3K, p-Akt and Glut4 were significantly increased in HRT group (P<0.01). Compared with BRT, p-PI3K and Glut4 in HRT group were significantly increased (P<0.05). ③Compared with DR group, p-Akt, Akt/p-Akt and Glut4 were significantly increased in BLRT group (P<0.01). Compared with BRT, Glut4 expression in BLRT group was significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with HRT, the Akt/p-Akt ratio in BLRT group was significantly increased (P<0.05). ④The expression of p-Akt, Glut4, P70S6K, p-P70S6K protein and the ratio of p-P70S6K/P70S6K were similar in BLRT and HRT groups. Conclusion:Blood flow restriction combined with low-intensity resistance training increases the p-Akt/Akt ratio, upregulates Glut4 expression, and attenuates skeletal muscle insulin resistance in T2DM rats, thereby reducing blood glucose.Blood flow restriction combined with resistance training had no significant effect on skeletal muscle mass. |