Comparison Effect of Continuous and Interval Training on Glycemic Factors in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Internal Articles

Many studies have investigated the effect of exercise on diabetes-related factors. The main purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of continuous and Interval endurance training on glycemic factors in type 2 diabetic patients in a systematic and meta-analysis review of Iranian studies. In the present study, databases of ScienceDirect, Scopus, science of the Web, SID, Magiran, and Scholar with special keywords. After initial screening, the full text of the articles was evaluated and Inclusion criteria were articles that were analyzed. Two hundred thirty-one articles were reviewed and 25 articles met the criteria for systematic review and meta-analysis. Accordingly, 908 diabetic patients were divided into two groups of control and experimental groups, respectively: 494 and 414. The mean age of the subjects in the present study was 50 years. The results showed that both interval and continuous exercise improved glucose indexes. (p = 0.001% CI = -1.24 -0.86, Z = -10) and insulin (p = 0.001; SE = 0.18, 95% CI = -1.62 -0.917, Z = -7) and insulin resistance (p = 0.001; SE = 0.05, 95% CI = -0.34 -0.13, Z = -4.52). There was a significant difference between continuous and interval exercise on glucose and insulin levels (p= 0.002 and p = 0.0001). But there was no difference in insulin resistance (p = 0.42). Continues and interval endurance training improves blood glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance levels. Interval training is more effective in improving glycemic index, although further studies and higher quality are still needed.