Research Progress on the Effects of Different Types of Exercise on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes is a major global public health challenge, and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) makes up about 90% of all diabetes cases. Exercise is a key part of lifestyle changes. Together with healthy eating and medicine, it forms the "three important parts" of T2DM management. This paper looks at how different types of exercise affect T2DM patients. These exercises include aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, high-intensity interval training, combined exercise, and fragmented exercise. It focuses on their effects on blood sugar control, how the body responds to insulin, and metabolic indicators, as well as the possible ways they work. Studies show that aerobic exercise has good effects both right away and over time. It does this by making the body more sensitive to insulin, improving mitochondrial function (the part of cells that makes energy), and regulating gut bacteria. Resistance exercise lowers the risk of diabetes by increasing muscle strength and improving how the body processes energy. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) brings big improvements to metabolism, but we need to be careful about safety, especially for elderly patients. Fragmented exercise is flexible and easy to stick to. So it may be a good extra exercise way for people living modern lives. By summarizing how different exercises work and giving practical suggestions, this paper wants to provide useful ideas for making personalized exercise plans for T2DM patients.