Inclusion Criteria:

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus as defined by the 1998 CDA Guidelines
• Male or female
• treated with diet and/or oral agents (no insulin)
• age 40-70
• HbA1c 0.066-0.099

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participation during the previous 6 months in a regular program of exercise or aerobic sports greater than 2 times per week for at least 20 minutes per session, or in any resistance training during the previous 6 months
• Insulin therapy, or uncontrolled hyperglycemia (HbA1c>0.099). Insulin therapy is an exclusion criterion because it would render HOMA insulin sensitivity calculation invalid.
• Changes in medications for diabetes, BP or lipids in the 2 months prior to enrollment.
• Significant weight change (increase or decrease of greater than 5% of body weight during the two months before enrollment).
• Significant renal disease: serum creatinine greater than 200 mEq/l. or proteinuria >1 g/24 hours.
• Uncontrolled hypertension: BP >160 mm Hg systolic or >95 mm Hg diastolic BP in a sitting position.
• Restrictions in physical activity due to disease: intermittent claudication, severe peripheral neuropathy or active proliferative retinopathy, unstable cardiac or pulmonary disease, disabling stroke, severe arthritis.
• Other illness, judged by the patient or study physician to make participation in this study inadvisable.
• Significant cognitive deficit resulting in inability to understand or comply with instructions.
• Pregnancy at the start of the study, or intention to become pregnant in the next year.
• Inability to communicate in English or French.
• Unwillingness to sign informed consent.