Mixed
Regular participation in moderate-intensity physical activity (3.0–6.0 METs), such as brisk walking for at least 2.5 hours per week, significantly reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to being sedentary.
To lower your risk of type 2 diabetes, aim for at least 2.5 hours of brisk walking per week. You do not need to run or lift heavy weights; walking fast enough to raise your heart rate slightly is sufficient. This benefit exists even if you do not lose weight, as exercise directly improves how your body handles sugar.
The summary RR of type 2 diabetes was 0.69 (95% CI 0.58 – 0.83) for regular participation in physical activity of moderate intensity as compared with being sedentary.
Why this rating
High-quality meta-analysis of 10 prospective cohort studies with over 300,000 participants, though observational design limits causal inference compared to RCTs.
Source
Physical Activity of Moderate Intensity and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Christie Y. Jeon et al. · Diabetes Care · 2007
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