Effect of walking training on blood glucose control and metabolic health in patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Haodong Yuan, Tingran Zhang, Jiong Luo
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the impact of walking training on blood glucose control in 483 patients with type 2 diabetes. The analysis revealed that walking training significantly reduced glycated hemoglobin levels by -0.48% (95% CI: -0.60 to -0.36, P < 0.00001). The study included five randomized controlled trials and highlighted the potential of walking as an effective adjunct therapy for diabetes management.
Key findings
- Walking training reduced glycated hemoglobin levels by -0.48% (95% CI: -0.60 to -0.36, P < 0.00001).
- The 'walking + other interventions' subgroup showed a larger effect size of -0.58% (95% CI: -0.96 to -0.20).
- The 'clear step target' subgroup had an effect size of -0.52% (95% CI: -0.65 to -0.39).
- Overall quality of the included studies was assessed as good.
Why it matters
Improving blood glucose control is crucial for managing type 2 diabetes, and walking training offers a simple, low-cost intervention that can enhance metabolic health. Understanding its effectiveness can help clinicians incorporate physical activity into treatment plans.