Resistance training does not reduce blood glucose levels in adults with type 1 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to evaluate whether resistance exercise can improve blood glucose levels in adults with type 1 diabetes. Methods: A review was conducted of studies indexed in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase, including randomized clinical trials published between 2002 and 2025. Methodological quality was assessed using the Jadad scale, and risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool. The meta-analysis was performed with RevMan 5.4 software using a random-effects model. Results: Four studies involving adults diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus were included. The analysis indicated that other interventions are more effective in promoting a reduction in blood glucose immediately after exercise (p < 0.05, 95% CI = 5.62–10.20; I² = 95%). Moreover, no difference was observed when assessing the effect on glycated hemoglobin (p = 0.32; 95% CI = −0.06–0.02).Conclusion: Therefore, the findings suggest that resistance exercise alone is not effective in promoting a significant improvement in glycemic control in adults.