Research Summary

Interval walking improves blood sugar control in diabetes.

Moderate confidence

Low bias

Last updated June 14, 2026

Key Takeaway:

This study investigated the effects of interval walking on postprandial glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes, finding significant improvements with one of the walking interventions.

Study at a Glance

Participants

Intervention

Interval walking (IW3), Interval walking (IW1), Control (No walking)

Outcomes

Postprandial blood glucose, Postprandial blood glucose levels at specific time points

Funding

Non-Industry Sponsored

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Main Effects

Postprandial blood glucose levels were significantly lower after IW3 compared to the control (10.3±3.0 vs. 11.1±3.3 mmol/L; P < 0.05).

There was no significant difference in postprandial glucose levels between IW1 and the control group (P > 0.05).

Postprandial glucose levels after IW3 were significantly lower at specific time points compared to the control.

Evidence Summary

Intervention	Outcome	Measured Change	Study Effect
Control (No walking) (Control)	Postprandial blood glucose (Glycemic Control)	No Change	Unclear
Interval walking (Physical Activity)	Postprandial blood glucose (Glycemic Control)	Decrease	Strong

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Evidence Suggest

IW3 reduced postprandial blood glucose by 0.8 mmol/L compared to the control.
No significant change in glucose levels was observed with IW1.
Postprandial glucose levels were higher after the control compared to IW3.

Who this applies to

Adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Individuals looking for non-pharmacological strategies to manage blood glucose.

Keep in Mind

The study's non-randomized design limits causal inferences.
The findings may not apply to younger populations or those with different diabetes types.
Further research is needed to confirm these results in larger, more diverse populations.

Between the Lines

The study design was non-randomized, which may introduce bias.
Sample size and demographic characteristics were not specified.
Results may not be generalizable to all individuals with type 2 diabetes.

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Journal Reference

Ida J, Thomas PJS, Kristian K, Shahrad T. Interval walking improves postprandial glycemic control in type 2 diabetes patients. PLOS ONE. 2016;11(10):e0163562. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0163562

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