Different types of exercise modulate glycemia immediately and over 24 hours in people with diabetes. The findings were presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Congress 2025.

Exercise is recommended for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but the relative effects of walking, aerobic, and anaerobic exercise on blood glucose control remain unclear. This real-world study analyzed 516,962 exercise events from 4,417 users of mySugr® and Apple Health® devices, comparing changes in glucose immediately after exercise and 24 hours later, using continuous glucose monitoring data.

Aerobic exercise caused the largest immediate drop in glucose (type 1: −25.90 mg/dL; type 2: −15.44 mg/dL; p<0.001), while anaerobic exercise yielded the greatest improvement in 24-hour time in range (type 1: +4.37%; type 2: +4.7%; all p<0.001). Walking also lowered glucose acutely and improved 24-hour glucose control, though to a lesser extent. Among type 1 diabetes participants, all exercise types increased hypoglycemia risk slightly over 24 hours (+0.34% to +0.68%, p<0.001).

These results demonstrate that exercise type affects both immediate and extended glycemic responses, similarly across diabetes types. The findings support tailoring exercise regimens to balance acute glucose reduction, 24-hour glycemic control, and hypoglycemia risk, providing practical guidance for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.