THE EFFECTS OF AEROBIC EXERCISE ON WOMEN WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

R. Singh¹, G. Singh²

¹Russell Sage College, Physical Therapy, Troy, United States, ²Binghamton University, Division of Physical Therapy, Johnson City, United States

Background: Although the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in women is high, women are continuously underreported in the literature. In a systematic review by Mazure and Jones, it has been shown that women have been underrepresented in biomedical research and that although progress has been made in recent years, they are nowhere close to being represented as they should be. A systematic review written by Kautzy-Willer, Harrieter, Pacini et. al; it was shown that women are more likely to have deadly comorbidities and fatalities than men from type 2 diabetes. Based on scarcity of data, more focused research on women could lead to more individualized treatment.

Purpose:​The purpose of this systematic review was to determine if previous research has shown an existing correlation between aerobic exercise and the reduction of adverse effects stemming from type 2 diabetes in women.

Methods: The following study is a systematic review, which is one of the highest forms of research in terms of the research hierarchy. This study was done in tandem with PRISMA guidelines. All articles reviewed in this study were collected from the following reputable databases: PubMed, PEDro, and google scholar. All reviewed articles were randomized control trials (RCT) performed in the last five years from 2015-2020. The information gathered for this systematic review was based on the following characteristics: diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, persons of the female sex, and participation in an intervention related to aerobic exercise.

Results: This systematic review comprised of 9 RCTs, all of which fell within the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All 9 of the articles reviewed showed a correlation between aerobic exercise and a decrease in the adverse effects of type 2 diabetes.

Conclusions:​This systematic review supports the hypothesis that there is an existing correlation between aerobic exercise and a decrease in the adverse effects of type 2 diabetes in women.

Implications: A better understanding of the role of exercise in women with Diabetes will lead to creation and implementation of better exercise strategies for women with type 2 diabetes.

Funding acknowledgements: N/A

Keywords:
Women
Type 2 Diabetes
Aerobic exercise

Topics:
Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing/physical activity
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) & risk factors
Primary health care

Did this work require ethics approval? No

Reason: This was as secondary data report developed based on the current literature review.