Resumen de Investigación
Analyzed using Evidence Intelligence™

Qigong and tai chi improve diabetes management in older adults

Última actualización 18 de julio de 2026

Key finding

There were no significant effects of interventions on FPG value (p = 0.107).

This study evaluated the effects of qigong and tai chi on middle-aged and older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Tai chi significantly increased HbA1C levels and reduced C-Peptide levels compared to the control group.

Quick read

Study at a glance

The essential study design details in one scan.

EvidenceScore™

Moderate

Study type

RCTs

Follow-up

Medium-Term (3–12 mo)

Risk of bias

Some Concerns

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Plain-language summary

What this paper says

A plain-language read of the study’s main message and where it applies.

Study focus

This study evaluated the effects of qigong and tai chi on middle-aged and older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Tai chi significantly increased HbA1C levels and reduced C-Peptide levels compared to the control group.

Clinical relevance

Understanding the effects of physical activity interventions like tai chi is crucial for managing T2DM in older adults. The observed increase in HbA1C levels raises concerns about the potential impact of tai chi on blood sugar control, highlighting the need for careful consideration of exercise types in diabetes management.

Keep in mind

Unclear effectiveness of interventions due to mixed outcomes. Limited generalizability to broader populations. Potential confounding factors not measured.

Published in

Referencia de la Revista

Publication details and source links for this paper.

Xiaoyuan L, Hongyu S, Yamin C, et al. Therapeutic efficacy of qigong and tai chi intervention in middle-aged and older adults with T2DM. PLOS ONE. 2020;15(12):e0243989. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0243989

Efectos Principales

No significant change in fasting plasma glucose (p = 0.107).

Tai chi group showed a significant increase in HbA1C levels (0.5%, p = 0.003).

Tai chi participants had a significant reduction in C-Peptide levels (-0.5 ng/mL, p = 0.004).

Evidence network

How this study fits

Understand where this research contributes within the broader evidence network.

Evidence Context

This study contributes evidence to Fitness Qigong and C-peptide, Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG), HbA1c.

Primary intervention

Fitness Qigong

Primary outcomes

  • C-peptide
  • Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)
  • HbA1c

Evidence relationships

Intervention and outcome relationships this study adds to the evidence network.

3
Evidence pairs
3
Relationships
2
Evidence topics
contributes_evidence

Editorial context

Why this study matters

See why this paper is useful beyond its individual results.

Evidence network role

This section describes how the study fits into the current evidence network. It does not determine whether an intervention works on its own.

Moderate contributionModerate confidenceNetwork score: 64

2

Related topics

3

Evidence pairs

555

Related studies

High relevance in at least one topic

Why it is useful

  • Contributes to 3 evidence relationships
  • Includes primary outcome data
  • Linked to 2 direct semantic evidence topics

Topic contributions

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

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Evidencia principal

Tema de evidencia

Glycemic Control

matched_outcome

Evidencia relacionada

Tema de evidencia

HbA1c Reduction

Guardar evidencia

Core evidence

Study findings

The primary outcomes reported in this study.

C-peptide

Fitness Qigong → C-peptide

Fitness Qigong → C-peptide

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
100
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 1 estudio
Add to Evidence Tracker

Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)

Fitness Qigong → Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)

Fitness Qigong → Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
50
Neutral
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 1 estudio
Add to Evidence Tracker

HbA1c

Fitness Qigong → HbA1c

Fitness Qigong → HbA1c

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
100
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 1 estudio
Add to Evidence Tracker

Evidence Library

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evidence suggest

La Evidencia Sugiere

  • Tai chi increased HbA1C levels significantly (0.5%, p = 0.003).
  • C-Peptide levels decreased significantly in the tai chi group (-0.5 ng/mL, p = 0.004).
  • No significant changes in fasting plasma glucose were observed (p = 0.107).
who this applies

A quién se aplica

  • Middle-aged adults aged 45-65 years.
  • Older adults aged 65 years and above with T2DM.
keep in mind

Tener en Cuenta

  • Results may not apply to younger populations or those without diabetes.
  • Further research is needed to clarify the impact of tai chi on diabetes management.
  • The study did not account for all potential confounding variables.
between the lines

Entre Líneas

  • Unclear effectiveness of interventions due to mixed outcomes.
  • Limited generalizability to broader populations.
  • Potential confounding factors not measured.

Evidence Library

Build your evidence library

Save research, organize studies, and quickly find important evidence again.

Connected Evidence

Explore related studies, evidence collections, and research questions.

Relationships organized using the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework.

This study contributes to evidence on Fitness Qigong and C-peptide, Fitness Qigong and Fasting Glucose.

Relaciones de evidencia relacionadas

Explore in Evidence Explorer

This study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention-outcome relationships.

Physical Activity
Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
100
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 1 estudio
View evidence

Questions answered by this study

Generated from the study's connected evidence using Evidence Intelligence™.

Does Fitness Qigong improve c-peptide?

Emerging Evidence

Fitness Qigong appears to improve C-peptide.

ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    C-peptide

    EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.

Limitations

  • Only one supporting study is available.
  • Consistency cannot yet be determined.
  • Population details are unavailable.
1 supporting studyUpdated: Jul 2026

Does Fitness Qigong improve HbA1c?

Emerging Evidence

Fitness Qigong appears to improve HbA1c.

ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    HbA1c

    EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.

Limitations

  • Only one supporting study is available.
  • Consistency cannot yet be determined.
  • Population details are unavailable.
1 supporting studyUpdated: Jul 2026

Does Fitness Qigong improve fasting plasma glucose (fpg)?

Emerging Evidence

Current evidence does not show a clear benefit of Fitness Qigong for Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG).

ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)

    EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | neutral | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.

Limitations

  • Only one supporting study is available.
  • Consistency cannot yet be determined.
  • Population details are unavailable.
1 supporting studyUpdated: Jul 2026
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