Adults With Type 1 Diabetes Are Less Active—But the Difference Is Small

A systematic review published in Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews examined 16 studies involving 3,335 adults to compare physical activity levels between people with and without Type 1 diabetes. Researchers pooled data across these studies to look for patterns.

The analysis found that adults with Type 1 diabetes were slightly less physically active overall than adults without diabetes. While statistically significant, the difference was small in practical terms. The studies also suggested people with Type 1 diabetes were less likely to meet physical activity recommendations, though this finding was not definitive.

Researchers looked for clues about why the activity gap exists. They examined whether factors like age, how long someone has had diabetes, or their glycated hemoglobin (a measure of average blood sugar control) might account for the difference. None of these factors explained the gap, suggesting other reasons may be at play.

This finding matters because it hints that diabetes-specific barriers—rather than age or disease severity—may be the real obstacles to staying active. These could include concerns about managing blood sugar during exercise, fear of hypoglycemia, or practical challenges like carrying supplies.

The review identified important gaps in current research. For example, there was not enough consistent data to draw conclusions about sedentary behavior (how much time people spend sitting), how many steps adults with Type 1 diabetes take daily, or whether differences exist in moderate versus vigorous-intensity activity.

These unanswered questions mean researchers still don't have a complete picture of how activity patterns differ between the two groups, or what specific types of movement might be most affected.

Physical activity is a cornerstone of Type 1 diabetes management and general health. If people with Type 1 diabetes are exercising less, even by a small amount, identifying the specific barriers could help doctors, educators, and patients develop better strategies to support active living.

The next step for researchers is to dig deeper into the reasons behind these differences and test targeted approaches to help adults with Type 1 diabetes overcome diabetes-specific hurdles to exercise.

Source: Diabetes/metabolism research and reviews. Evidence type: PubMed indexed literature. Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.