Thirty-one studies (calculated from tables) were included in the review comprising 682 patients.
Acute glycaemic control: Exercise, including aerobic and acute high intensity exercise, showed a statistically significant improvement of glycaemic levels, with reduced venous blood glucose values (ES -4.17, 95% CI -4.57 to -3.76; 10 studies). The greatest effect on venous blood glucose values was reported for aerobic exercise in adults (ES – 6.00, 95% CI -6.87 to -5.14; five studies).
Chronic glycaemic control: Exercise overall resulted in a small but statistically significant reduction in glycated haemoglobin levels (ES -0.27, 95% CI -0.47 to -0.08; 16 studies). A similar result was observed with aerobic exercise (ES -0.23, 95% CI -0.44 to -0.02; 12 studies). There was a statistically significant decrease in glycated haemoglobin levels when aerobic exercise was compared with control groups among adolescents (ES -1.03, 95% CI -1.56 to -0.49; two studies).
Combined aerobic exercise and strength training showed a statistically significant reduction in glycated haemoglobin
levels in adolescents compared to control groups (ES -1.48, 95% CI -2.07 to -0.89; four studies).
There were no statistically significant changes in chronic glycaemic control with strength training (two studies).
Other findings, including results from single studies, were reported in the review. The authors stated that there was no evidence of publication bias according to funnel plots (data not presented).