Research
Hormonal
Structured aerobic exercise of at least 150 minutes per week significantly improves glycemic control (HbA1c) in individuals with type 2 diabetes, independent of weight loss.
To manage your blood sugar, aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise (like brisk walking) or 90 minutes of vigorous exercise (like jogging) every week. Spread this out over at least 3 days, and try not to go more than 2 days in a row without moving. This improves your blood sugar directly, even if your weight doesn't change.
WeakSupportsVERY_HIGH confidence
Postintervention A1C was significantly lower in exercise than control groups (7.65 vs. 8.31%, weighted mean difference -0.66%; P < 0.001)... Meta-regression confirmed that the beneficial effect of exercise on A1C was independent of any effect on body weight.
Why this rating
Based on systematic reviews and meta-analyses of controlled clinical trials (Level of Evidence A).
Source
Physical Activity/Exercise and Type 2 Diabetes
Ronald J. Sigal et al. · Diabetes Care · 2006
DOI 10.2337/dc06-9910
clinical_guidelineCited 952×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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- Resistance training performed three times per week significantly improves glycemic control (HbA1c) in older adults with type 2 diabetes, comparable to aerobic exercise.Weak
- Lifestyle interventions combining at least 150 minutes per week of physical activity with modest energy restriction reduce the risk of progression from impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) to type 2 diabetes by 58%.Weak
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