Effectiveness of Wearable Activity Monitors on Metabolic Outcomes in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Wearable activity monitors are promising tools for improving metabolic outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but no uniform conclusive evidence is available. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of intervention using wearable activity monitors on blood glucose, blood pressure, blood lipid, weight, waist circumference and body mass index (BMI) in T2DM. METHODS Two independent reviewers searched four online databases (PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Embase) to identify relevant studies published from January 2000 to October 2022. The primary outcome indicator was glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and secondary outcome indicators included physical activity (steps per day), fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, BMI, waist circumference and weight. RESULTS A total of 25 studies were included. HbA1c [Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) = -0.14, 95%CI (-0.27, -0.02), P = 0.02, I2 = 48%], BMI [SMD = -0.16, 95%CI (-0.26, -0.05), P = 0.002, I2 = 0], waist circumference [SMD = -0.21, 95%CI (-0.34, -0.09), P ＜ 0.001, I2 = 0], steps/day [SMD = 0.55, 95%CI (0.36, 0.94), P < 0.001, I2 = 77%], were significantly improved. CONCLUSION Wearable activity monitor-based interventions could facilitate the improvement of HbA1c, BMI, waist circumference and the increase of physical activity in T2DM. Wearable technology appeared to be an effective tool for the self-management of T2DM, but there is insufficient evidence about its long-term effect.
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Maintaining physical activity can aid in glycemic control, while a decrease in physical activity can contribute to a deterioration in glycemic control.
“Our findings align with the literature, which demonstrates that maintaining physical activity can aid in glycemic control, while a decrease in physical activity can contribute to a deterioration in glycemic control [13, 17].”
From Sequential use of continuous glucose monitoring, with or without exercise trackers, significantly improves glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes (2025) · cites this paper as [13]
Peng et al. synthesized 25 studies examining the use of fitness trackers in managing patients with T2D, but these studies focused on achieving weight loss, which led to consequent improvement of HbA1c.
“Peng et al. [13] synthesized 25 studies examining the use of fitness trackers in managing patients with T2D. However, these studies focused on achieving weight loss, which led to consequent improvement of HbA1c.”
From Sequential use of continuous glucose monitoring, with or without exercise trackers, significantly improves glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes (2025) · cites this paper as [13]
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Lahiri, A., Lim, S. T., Kyu, H., Dan, Y. Y., & Khoo, C. M. (2025) · Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome · doi:10.1186/s13098-025-02035-6 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
- Authors
- Peng, P., Zhang, N., Huang, J., Jiao, X., & Shen, Y.
- Affiliations
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Shen, Yunfeng
- Venue
- Endocrine Practice
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2023-05
- Volume
- 29
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 368-378
- ISSN
- 1530-891X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4321204580
- Semantic Scholar
- 776dd4ef744400f4a9980afb7a49bd46a16355cc
- Cited by
- 12
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1
- FWCI
- 0.60
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Endocrine Practice (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Key Research and Development Program of Jiangxi Province (20192BBG70027)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Management and Research
- Keywords
- wearable activity trackers, type 2 diabetes, glycemic control, HbA1c, physical activity, body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, serum lipids, weight, diabetes self-management, wearable devices
- MeSH terms
- Wearable Electronic Devices, Blood Glucose, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Glycated Hemoglobin, Humans, Cholesterol, HDL
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