SynthesisCardiovascular diabetology2025
The effect of exercise characteristics on HbA1c and other cardiovascular risk factors in adults with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
Synthesis in Cardiovascular diabetology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Does resistance training alone or in combination with aerobic training improve vascular function indices in adults with type 2 diabetes? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2026Pooled it
- The optimal exercise modality and dose for glycemic control in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2026Pooled it
- Meta-analysis of the effects of exercise intervention on glucose metabolism and body composition in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2026Pooled it
- Effects of a Synchronous Telehealth Exercise Program on Clinical, Functional, and Psychosocial Outcomes in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (RED Study): A Randomized Clinical Trial.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026Trial
- Self-Reported Physical Activity and Type 2 Diabetes in Adults Attending Primary Care: A Real-World Cross-Sectional Study of Cardiometabolic Risk.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2026Observational
- Lifestyle intervention outcomes in T2DM and the added value of CGM: 6-month results from the Polish cohort of the C4D study.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Latest advances and controversies of exercise therapy in the management of type 2 diabetes.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundExercise is a first-line therapy in adults with type 2 diabetes, yet its optimal characteristics remain unclear. Moreover, most meta-analyses focus on glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), providing limited insight into the concomitant effects of these exercise programmes on the overall cardiovascular risk profile.
methodsA systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. Nine electronic databases were searched from inception to January 2025 for randomised controlled trials evaluating the effects of exercise on HbA1c and concomitantly reported cardiovascular risk factors in adults with type 2 diabetes. Outcomes were pooled using random-effects models and analysed by exercise type. Subgroup analyses were performed to explore optimal exercise characteristics for improving HbA1c.
resultsOne hundred randomised controlled trials (7195 participants, 136 interventions) were included. All exercise types significantly improved HbA1c, with the largest reductions observed for combined training (− 0.74%, 95% CI [− 0.91; − 0.57], n = 38) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) (− 0.71%, 95% CI [− 1.07; − 0.35], n = 13), followed by continuous aerobic training (CAT) (− .62%, 95% CI [− 0.84; − 0.41], n = 57) and resistance training (− 0.36%, 95% CI [− 0.51; − 0.20], n = 38). Supervised interventions and those prescribing a weekly volume of 150–210 min were consistently the most effective. Analyses of concomitantly reported cardiovascular risk factors showed improvements in VO2peak with CAT, combined training and HIIT (+ 2.77 to + 4.19 ml/kg/min) and in muscle strength with resistance and combined training (SMD: + 0.44 to + 0.66). All modalities reduced fasting plasma glucose (− 0.60 to − 1.13 mmol/L), LDL cholesterol (− 0.18 to − 0.31 mmol/L) and systolic blood pressure (− 1.24 to − 4.15 mmHg), while improvements in body fat were observed only after CAT, combined training and HIIT (SMD: − 0.36 to − 0.59).
conclusionsAll types of exercise significantly improved HbA1c, with combined training producing the largest reduction. Moreover, each modality provides distinct advantages for other cardiovascular risk factors, with combined training offering the broadest benefits and HIIT serving as a time-efficient alternative. Tailoring exercise programmes based on the patient’s individual risk profile, and adjusting exercise types accordingly, may help optimise outcomes.
trial registrationPROSPERO (CRD42025642391).
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What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.