SIGNIFICANCE The global burden of type 2 diabetes is increasing, and complications of the illness occur primarily in those whose glucose control is fair or poor. If exercise training with resistance bands improves glucose control, it could be beneficial to the large numbers of patients who cannot travel to a gym or cannot afford gym membership. If resistance exercise is then adopted by more patients, it is likely that the morbidity associated with type 2 diabetes will be decreased. This is particularly true if such training also improves quality of life, and more people are thus inclined to continue exercising in the long term.