Frontiers review reports lower average and fasting blood glucose with exercise in youth with type 1 diabetes
A Frontiers in Nutrition meta-analysis of 14 trials involving 543 young people with type 1 diabetes found exercise significantly reduced glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), a measure of average blood glucose, and fasting blood glucose. The authors said more high-quality studies are needed to clarify dose-response relationships and longer-term outcomes.
Frontiers in Nutrition published a systematic review and meta-analysis on Oct. 28 of exercise interventions for children and adolescents aged 5 to 18 with type 1 diabetes. Across 14 randomized trials involving 543 participants, the authors reported that exercise significantly reduced glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting blood glucose compared with controls.1
The subgroup training at a moderate metabolic equivalent of task (MET) level had the largest numerical HbA1c reduction, but differences between intensity subgroups were not statistically significant. The authors said more high-quality studies were needed to clarify dose-response relationships and long-term outcomes.1
For trainers, the findings are most relevant to work with young clients with type 1 diabetes; they do not establish effects across the general gym population.1
