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World J Diabetes. Aug 15, 2024; 15(8): 1704-1711
Published online Aug 15, 2024. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v15.i8.1704
Mechanism underlying the effects of exercise against type 2 diabetes: A review on research progress
Chen-Jian Peng, Shuo Chen, Su-Ying Yan, Jian-Ning Zhao, Zhi-Wen Luo, Yuan Qian, Guo-Liang Zhao
Chen-Jian Peng, Shuo Chen, Su-Ying Yan, Jian-Ning Zhao, Department of Sports Medicine, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210022, Jiangsu Province, China
Zhi-Wen Luo, Department of Sports Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
Yuan Qian, Guo-Liang Zhao, Department of Outpatient, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210006, Jiangsu Province, China
Co-first authors: Chen-Jian Peng and Shuo Chen.
Co-corresponding authors: Zhi-Wen Luo and Guo-Liang Zhao.
Author contributions: Peng CJ, Chen S, and Yan SY conducted the original search and wrote the first draft of the paper; Zhao JN and Luo ZW screened the selected articles and contributed to subsequent drafts of the manuscript; Luo ZW, Qian Y, and Zhao GL designed the outline of the manuscript; Qian Y and Chen S generated the original idea of this study and provided suggestions. Luo ZW and Zhao GL, as co-corresponding authors, contributed equally to this article (designed the study), while Peng CJ and Chen S were the co-first authors.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: Https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Zhi-Wen Luo, MD, PhD, Academic Editor, Academic Research, Doctor, Surgeon, Department of Sports Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No. 12 Wulumuqi Zhong Road, Shanghai 200040, China. zhiwen.luo_fudan@hotmail.com
Received: April 1, 2024
Revised: June 19, 2024
Accepted: June 27, 2024
Published online: August 15, 2024
Processing time: 115 Days and 17 Hours
Abstract

Exercise has emerged as one of the important and effective non-drug therapies used for management of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in certain nations. The present report summarizes the latest findings from the research on the beneficial effect of exercise on T2D. The objectives were to provide references for the theoretical study and the clinical practice of exercise-based management of T2D, in addition to identify the limitations of the existing literature, thereby provide direction for future research in this field.

Keywords: Type 2 diabetes; Diabetes; Exercise; Mechanism; Inflammation

Core Tip: Exercise significantly benefits type 2 diabetes (T2D) management by enhancing insulin sensitivity, regulating glucose and lipid metabolism, and reducing inflammation. This review reveals how different exercise types, including aerobic, resistance, and flexibility exercises, contribute to these effects. It also highlights the need for personalized exercise programs to optimize T2D treatment. The article underscores the importance of incorporating exercise into comprehensive care strategies for T2D, pointing towards future research to refine and personalize exercise recommendations for individuals with T2D.