High-Intensityโ Interval Training Shown to Significantly Reduce HbA1c in Type 2 Diabetes Patients
London, UK – November 12, 2025, 10:14:28 GMT – A โgrowing body of โevidence confirms that high-intensity interval โtraining (HIIT) is the most effective exercise modality for lowering HbA1c levels in individuals diagnosed with type โข2 diabetes,โ offering a โpowerful non-pharmacological tool in managing theโฃ chronicโ condition. Newโ research syntheses demonstrate consistently greater reductions in HbA1c โฃwith HIIT compared to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT)โ or no exerciseโข at all,โฃ potentially reducing reliance on medication and improving long-term health outcomes.
Type 2 diabetes affects over 537 million โฃadultsโฃ globally as of 2021,according to the Internationalโ Diabetesโ Federation,andโ that number is projectedโข to rise to 783 million โby 2045. โHbA1c, a measure of averageโค blood sugarโฃ control over the past twoโข to three months, is aโฃ critical indicator ofโ diabetes management. Elevated โHbA1c levelsโข increase theโ risk of serious complications, including cardiovascular disease, neuropathy, and nephropathy. Finding effective strategies to lower HbA1c is therefore โขparamountโ for โimproving the quality of life andโค extendingโข the โlifespan of those living with the disease.
HIIT involves โshort bursts of intenseโข exercise alternated with recovery periods. A meta-analysis published โขin โ Sports Medicine inโฃ 2023, encompassing data from 23 randomized controlled trials involving over โฃ900 participants with type 2 diabetes, revealed that HIIT reducedโฃ HbA1c by an โaverage ofโค 0.55% – significantly more thanโ the 0.26% reduction observed with MICT. Researchers attribute this enhanced effect to HIIT’s ability to improve insulin sensitivity, increase glucose uptakeโ byโ muscles, and promote greater improvements in overall fitness.
“The physiological response โto HIITโ isโ simply more potent,”โ explains Dr.โ Emma Stevenson, a leading endocrinologist at โคKing’s College london. “the intense โคeffort creates a greater โdemand for glucose, effectively ‘clearing’โ sugar from the bloodstream and improving theโฃ body’s abilityโค to respond to insulin.”
While HIIT โoffers ample benefits, it’s crucial for individuals with diabetes to consult their healthcare provider before โคstarting any new exercise program. A tailoredโ approach, considering individual healthโข status and fitness levels, isโค essential โto ensure safety and maximize effectiveness. โฃExperts recommend starting with shorter intervals andโ gradually increasing intensity and duration as fitness improves. A โฃtypicalโฃ HIIT protocolโค might โinvolve 30-second sprints followed by 60-second recovery periods, repeated 8-12 times, performed 2-3 times per week.
