Effects of exercise interventions on 24‐h continuous glucose profiles in non‐diabetic populations: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

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Abstract
Aims: Emerging evidence suggests that glycemic variability may be relevant to metabolic health, even in people without diabetes. This study aims to assess the effects of exercise on 24‐h continuous glucose profiles in the non‐diabetic population. Materials and Methods: Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and CNKI databases were searched up to August 25, 2025. The meta‐analysis was performed on the 24‐h mean blood glucose (MBG), mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (MAGE), peak blood glucose (MAX), 4–6‐h incremental area under the glucose curve (iAUC), and time in range (TIR). Risk of bias was assessed using RoB2 and ROBINS‐I V2. Subgroup analyses considered population, age, study design, and exercise type. Results: Twenty‐three studies (18 RCTs, five non‐RCTs; 408 participants) were included. Exercise significantly reduced MBG (weighted mean difference [WMD] = −0.17 mmol/L), MAGE (WMD = −0.27 mmol/L), MAX (WMD = −0.63 mmol/L), and 4–6‐h iAUC (standardized mean difference [SMD] = −0.60), while increasing TIR (WMD = 6.22%), compared to non‐exercise or usual activity controls. Other outcomes showed no significant changes. Subgroup analyses indicated that age influenced MBG, while population and exercise type affected MAGE. Risk of bias showed 38.9% RCTs as low risk, 61.1% RCTs with some concerns, and all non‐RCTs at moderate risk. Conclusions: Acute exercise produced minor, parameter‐specific improvements in certain CGM metrics (MBG, MAGE, MAX, TIR, and 4–6‐h iAUC). These modest changes indicate subtle physiological adaptations. Larger, longer, and better‐controlled trials are needed to determine their clinical relevance.
Funding Information
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (32400953)

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