Individuals with type 2 diabetes often experience depression, which can complicate the management and exacerbate the complexities of the illness (Pinchevsky et al., 2020; Zhuang et al., 2017). Depression not only affects glycemic control but also increases the risk of complications associated with diabetes (Hermanns et al., 2013). Additionally, depression can reduce motivation, impacting diabetes medication compliance and self-management practices like exercise and diet (Petrak and Herpertz, 2009). Treating depression in people with type 2 diabetes is challenging for clinicians due to the need to balance psychological health with the complexities of diabetes-specific guidelines. Traditional psychotropic drugs may be complex to manage due to their potential negative effects on blood glucose levels (Davies, 2019; Brandt et al., 2019).
In light of these challenges, physical activity emerges as a potential strategy for managing both mental health issues and diabetes-related problems. Physical activity has been shown to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels while simultaneously reducing symptoms of depression (Narita et al., 2019). In this context, a systematic review and meta-analysis conducted by Arsh and colleagues (2023) aimed to explore the effects of physical activity on depression among people with type 2 diabetes.
The study involved a thorough analysis of available data regarding the effects of physical activity on depression among individuals with type 2 diabetes. The researchers searched six databases and systematically reviewed individual or cluster randomized controlled trials, ultimately including 18 studies involving 1,428 participants. The majority of participants were over 50 years old, with most trials involving both men and women. The studies spanned from 2001 to 2021 and were conducted in low- and middle-income as well as high-income countries.
The meta-analysis results indicated a significant improvement in depressive symptoms in people with type 2 diabetes following participation in physical activity. Both high- and low-income countries showed positive effects, and both aerobic and resistance exercises were found to be effective in treating depression. Subgroup analyses across various factors such as country, participant sex/gender, depression measurement, intervention duration, intervention type, and age consistently showed the positive impact of physical activity on depression in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
However, the study also found that physical activity did not significantly improve glycemic control in this population, as indicated by a lack of effects on markers of glycemic control. Additionally, substantial heterogeneity across the included studies raised concerns about the combined data and risk of bias.
In conclusion, while physical activity can moderately reduce depressive symptoms in adults with type 2 diabetes, it may not significantly improve glycemic control in this population. The study had strengths in its sensitivity and subgroup analyses but also had limitations, particularly in the substantial heterogeneity of the included studies and the overall quality of the evidence.
Overall, the review highlights the potential benefits of physical activity in managing depression symptoms in individuals with type 2 diabetes and calls for further research to better understand the relationship between physical activity, mental health, and diabetes management.
