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
DOI 10.1161/jaha.124.035721
More from this paper
- Cardiac diastolic function, specifically the E/e' ratio and Left Atrial Volume Index (LAVI), significantly moderates the reduction in relative peak oxygen uptake in Type 2 Diabetes patients.Good
- Time since Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis is a significant moderator of absolute peak oxygen uptake, with longer duration associated with greater reductions in fitness.Good
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