Exercise improved balance and cognition in adults with type 2 diabetes

Moderate confidence

Some Concerns bias

Last updated May 6, 2026

Key Takeaway:

In adults with type 2 diabetes, both supervised dual-task and single-task exercise programs improved balance, functional mobility, and cognitive performance over 8 weeks compared with no exercise.

Study at a Glance

What was studied

Supervised dual-task and single-task exercise programs in adults with type 2 diabetes

Study Type

Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)

duration

Short-Term (≤3 mo)

Intervention

Single-task balance training, Motor-cognitive balance exercise

Outcomes

Motor-cognitive dual-task performance, Balance performance, Functional mobility, Cognitive function

Funding

Non-Industry Sponsored

Save this study and add notes to your research library.

Main Effects

Dual-task walking performance ↓ improved in both exercise groups versus control

Balance test errors and completion times ↓ after both exercise programs

Cognitive screening scores ↑, with the largest MoCA gain in the dual-task group

Evidence Summary

Intervention	Outcome	Measured Change	Study Effect
Dual-task balance exercise (Physical Activity)	Cognitive function (Clinical Outcomes)	Increase	Strong
Dual-task balance exercise (Physical Activity)	Dual-task performance (Clinical Outcomes)	Decrease	Mixed
Dual-task balance exercise (Physical Activity)	Functional mobility (Clinical Outcomes)	Mixed	Strong
Dual-task balance exercise (Physical Activity)	Postural balance (Clinical Outcomes)	Decrease	Strong
Single-task balance exercise (Physical Activity)	Cognitive function (Clinical Outcomes)	Increase	Mixed
Single-task balance exercise (Physical Activity)	Dual-task performance (Clinical Outcomes)	Decrease	Mixed
Single-task balance exercise (Physical Activity)	Functional mobility (Clinical Outcomes)	Mixed	Strong
Single-task balance exercise (Physical Activity)	Postural balance (Clinical Outcomes)	Decrease	Strong

Unlock Full Evidence Analysis

Create a free account to access effectiveness ratings, evidence strength and depth scores, consistency analysis, and direct links to all supporting studies.

Evidence Suggest

Both exercise groups improved TUG performance under single-task and dual-task conditions more than the control group.
Both exercise groups improved balance and functional mobility measures, including BESS, FSST, TUG, and FRT.
Cognitive outcomes improved in both exercise groups, and MoCA total score improved more in the dual-task group than in the other groups.

Who this applies to

This study applies most directly to middle-aged adults with type 2 diabetes who can walk independently and do not have major diabetes-related complications, severe sensory loss, or medical conditions that would limit exercise participation.

Keep in Mind

The benefits were shown in a relatively small supervised program with one-on-one physiotherapist support, so results may not be identical in routine unsupervised care. Also, the dual-task program was not clearly better than the single-task program on most outcomes, so the safest conclusion is that structured exercise helped, while added cognitive tasks may offer selective extra benefit.

Between the Lines

The final analyzed sample was small.
Participants and therapists were not blinded.
The follow-up lasted only 8 weeks with no longer-term outcome assessment.
People with diabetic complications were excluded, which limits generalizability.

Unlock Full Analysis

Create a free account to unlock the bias score, detailed effectiveness analysis, and clinical outcomes for this study.

Already have an account?

Journal Reference

Aslan Kolukisa S, Taspinar F, Taspinar B. Examining the Effects of Dual and Single Task Exercises in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Clin Med. 2026;15(7):2761. doi:10.3390/jcm15072761

Connected Evidence

Discover how this study fits into the broader diabetes evidence landscape.

This study contributes to evidence on Dual-task balance exercise and Physical Function and Fitness, Dual-task balance exercise and Cognitive function.