Mixed
Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) exhibit significantly reduced cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), measured as peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), compared to healthy controls, with reductions averaging 13.9% for absolute VO2peak and 17.4% for relative VO2peak.
If you have Type 2 Diabetes, expect your maximum oxygen uptake to be lower than a healthy peer's, even if you feel fine. This is a physiological marker of the disease, not a lack of effort. Start exercise interventions at a lower intensity to manage early fatigue, and focus on consistency rather than high intensity initially, as improving this baseline fitness is critical for long-term health outcomes.
On average, VO2peak was decreased by 13.9±8.9% in the T2D group compared with healthy individuals... On average, VO2peak was decreased by 17.4±10.5% in the T2D group compared with healthy individuals.
Why this rating
This is a systematic review and meta-analysis of 32 articles with over 1,000 subjects, using rigorous statistical methods.
Source
Exercise Intolerance in Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Kara C. Anderson et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · 2025
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →