Effects of different mind-body exercises on glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes: A network meta-analysis

This study aims to compare the relative effectiveness of different forms of mind-body exercise in improving glycolipid metabolism in patients with T2DM using a network meta-analysis. The relevant literature was systematically searched in Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang database and VIP Chinese Science. A network meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model within a frequentist framework. A total of 52 studies with 6 modalities of mind-body exercise involving 4024 patients were included. Compared with controls, all exercise modalities except Yijinjing significantly improved patients' fasting blood glucose (MDs ranged from −0.72(95% CI: −1.20,-0.25) in dance to −2.06(95% CI: −2.59,-1.54) in yoga), glycated hemoglobin (MDs ranged from −0.62 (95% CI: −0.96) in taijiquan to −0.27,-0.27) in Pilates to −1.18(95% CI: 1.80,-0.57)), total cholesterol (MDs ranged from −0.73(95% CI: −1.29,-0.17) in Pilates to −0.41(95% CI: −0.62,-0.19) in Tai Chi), triglycerides (MDs ranged from −0.56 in Pilates (95% CI: −1.07,-0.04) for Pilates to −0.38 (95% CI: −0.67,-0.10)) for dance; only Tai Chi Chuan (MD:0.12 95% CI:0.04,0.20) and Baduanjin (MD:0.14 95% CI:0.06,0.22) significantly increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in patients; only yoga(MD: 0.78 95%CI: 1.20,-0.37) and Tai Chi Chuan(MD: 0.32 95%CI: 0.60,-0.04) significantly decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in patients. All mind-body exercises help to improve blood glucose and lipid levels in T2DM patients, but the ranking of relative effectiveness needs to be rationalized. Our study suggests that T2DM patients should choose appropriate mind-body exercises according to their conditions and stick to them for a long time under their healthcare professionals' guidance to achieve effective diabetes control. •This study compared the relative effectiveness of different forms of mind-body exercise in improving glycolipid metabolism in patients with T2DM using a network meta-analysis.•This result serves to guide clinical decision-making and inform future research, while also offering T2DM patients insights into exercise options for their daily lives.•We found that all mind-body exercises help to improve blood glucose and lipid levels in T2DM patients, but the ranking of relative effectiveness needs to be rationalized.