Optimal strategies for exercise intervention in older people diabetic patients: The impacts of intensity, form, and frequency on glycemic control: An exercise prescription for older people with diabetes

This study aims to investigate the optimal exercise intensity, type, and weekly duration for improving glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels in older people individuals with diabetes. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and other databases were searched to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) starting from January 2000 to February 2024 that reported improved effects on fasting glucose and glycated haemoglobin after different exercises in middle-aged and elderly diabetic patients. Meta-analyses Review Manager V.5.3 was used. Meta-analysis showed that moderate- and high-intensity exercise had a significant effect on HbA1c levels, with a mean difference (MD) of -0.34 (95 % CI: -0.44 ∼ -0.24, p < 0.01) for moderate-intensity exercise and -0.54 (95 % CI: -0.78 ∼ -0.3, p < 0.001) for high-intensity exercise.. Both moderate-intensity and high-intensity exercise demonstrated statistical significance in lowering fasting blood glucose levels (p < 0.001). Additionally, there was no significant difference between aerobic and resistance exercise forms (p= 0.72). Furthermore, for reducing HbA1c levels, engageing in weekly exercise for at least 2.5 hours showed a MD of-0.44(95 % CI:-0.63∼0.25;p